🔹 1. Core Meaning: “to put / to place”
- 把书放在桌子上。
Bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng. – Put the book on the table. - 请把手机放下。
Qǐng bǎ shǒujī fàng xià. – Please put down your phone.
🔹 2. “To release / to let go”
- 放人 (fàng rén) – to release a person
- 放手 (fàng shǒu) – to let go (literally “release hand”)
- 放过 (fàng guò) – to let someone off
Example:
- 他不想放手。
Tā bù xiǎng fàng shǒu. – He doesn’t want to let go.
🔹 3. “To give freedom / to allow”
- 放假 (fàng jià) – to have a vacation/holiday (school/work “lets you go”)
- 学校明天放假。
Xuéxiào míngtiān fàngjià. – The school has a holiday tomorrow. - 放人家一马。
Fàng rénjiā yī mǎ. – Cut someone some slack (idiom).
🔹 4. “To set free / to let out”
- 放风筝 (fàng fēngzheng) – fly a kite (literally: let the kite out)
- 放烟花 (fàng yānhuā) – set off fireworks
- 放牛 (fàng niú) – to herd cattle (let cows out to graze)
🔹 5. “To turn on / play / emit”
- 放音乐 (fàng yīnyuè) – to play music
- 放电影 (fàng diànyǐng) – to show a movie
- 放光 (fàng guāng) – to shine (emit light)
🔹 6. “To add / put into”
- 放盐 (fàng yán) – add salt
- 放糖 (fàng táng) – add sugar
- 少放点辣椒。
Shǎo fàng diǎn làjiāo. – Put less chili.
🔹 7. Extended / Idiomatic
- 放心 (fàngxīn) – don’t worry (lit: put heart down)
- 放松 (fàngsōng) – relax (lit: loosen up)
- 放大 (fàng dà) – to enlarge, magnify
🔹 Practice Sentences
Try reading these and making your own:
- 请把书放在椅子上。
Qǐng bǎ shū fàng zài yǐzi shàng. – Please put the book on the chair. - 老师说明天放假。
Lǎoshī shuō míngtiān fàngjià. – The teacher said we have a holiday tomorrow. - 我喜欢放音乐。
Wǒ xǐhuān fàng yīnyuè. – I like playing music. - 做饭的时候不要放太多盐。
Zuò fàn de shíhou bú yào fàng tài duō yán. – Don’t put too much salt when cooking. - 别担心，你可以放心。
Bié dānxīn, nǐ kěyǐ fàngxīn. – Don’t worry, you can relax.