verb HSK 2
to put · to place · to release · to let go · to let out
Meaning
放 is a versatile verb meaning to put, place, or release something. It describes the action of setting something down in a location or freeing something from restraint. This character appears in many common compound words and everyday expressions.
Usage
放 is used in countless daily situations: putting objects somewhere (放在桌子上), releasing things (放开), playing media (放音乐), taking time off (放假), and even letting things spoil (放坏了). Native speakers use it constantly, and it combines with many other characters to form specific meanings.
Examples
- 01请把书放在桌子上。.Please put the book on the table.
- 02暑假的时候学校会放两个月的假。.The school will have a two-month vacation during summer break.
Common collocations
- 放在to put at/in
- 放心to set one's mind at ease, to rest assured
- 放假to have a holiday/vacation
- 放开to let go, to release
Antonyms
Origin
The character 放 combines the radical 攵 (action with hand/stick) with 方 (direction/square), suggesting the action of directing or sending something in a particular direction or place.