Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
撂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
撂liàoto put down, to put aside, to dropv, 14 strokes, radical 扌, rank #13189, Very Hard
撂liàoto leave behindunknown, 14 strokes, radical 扌, rank #13189, Very Hard
撂liàoto throw or knock downunknown, 14 strokes, radical 扌, rank #13189, Very Hard
撂liàoto abandon or discardunknown, 14 strokes, radical 扌, rank #13189, Very Hard
liào(liao4) T4
  1. 1to put down, to put aside, to drop
  2. 2to leave behind
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

撂liào(liao4)

The character 撂 (liào) primarily means to put down, drop, or abandon something. It is commonly used in contexts where an item is discarded or set aside, indicating a sense of leaving something behind or knocking it down. The nuance can vary slightly based on context, but it generally conveys a casual or abrupt action.

Strokes14Radical扌Frequency#13189DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In rural China, the act of 撂 (putting down or abandoning) can be linked to traditional farming practices where tools are often left in the field after use, symbolizing a casual attitude towards possessions in daily life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person throwing down a heavy bag (the character 撂 resembles a hand dropping something), and saying 'liào!' as they let it go. The left side (扌) represents a hand, and the right side (了) suggests completion or finality, reinforcing the idea of dropping or leaving something behind.

Meanings of 撂

liào(liao4)
1to put down, to put aside, to drop
2to leave behind
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 撂 means.

About 撂

撂Simplified
14Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 撂

JasonAmy

Podcast: 撂

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 撂

Quick Contrast

撂 (liào) vs 放 (fàng) — use 撂 for a more casual or abrupt action of dropping something, while 放 implies a more deliberate act of placing.

Usage Notes

When using 撂, be mindful of the tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning. It is more informal and typically used in spoken language rather than formal writing, so avoid using it in academic contexts. Common collocations include 撂下 (put down) and 撂弃 (abandon).

HSK Study Tips

While 撂 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to other verbs that involve actions of putting or dropping, such as 放 (fàng) and 拿 (ná). Focus on the context in which you use 撂 to distinguish it from similar verbs.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 撂 with the more formal 放, using it in contexts that require more precision. For instance, saying '我撂下了书' (I dropped the book) is informal, while '我放下了书' (I put down the book) is more appropriate in a formal setting.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 撂

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 撂 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 撂 to You

Let me explain 撂 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 撂 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 撂?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 撂 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 撂

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)畧
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

撂 = 扌 + 畧. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 撂

IDS Structure⿰扌畧
撂Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
畧lüe4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 撂?

How to say to put down, to put aside, to drop in Chinese

“to put down, to put aside, to drop” in Chinese is撂liào

The character 撂 (liào) primarily means to put down, drop, or abandon something. It is commonly used in contexts where an item is discarded or set aside, indicating a sense of leaving something behind or knocking it down. The nuance can vary slightly based on context, but it generally conveys a casual or abrupt action.

When to use 撂

When using 撂, be mindful of the tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning. It is more informal and typically used in spoken language rather than formal writing, so avoid using it in academic contexts. Common collocations include 撂下 (put down) and 撂弃 (abandon).

撂 or something close to it

撂 (liào) vs 放 (fàng) — use 撂 for a more casual or abrupt action of dropping something, while 放 implies a more deliberate act of placing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 撂 with the more formal 放, using it in contexts that require more precision. For instance, saying '我撂下了书' (I dropped the book) is informal, while '我放下了书' (I put down the book) is more appropriate in a formal setting.

Write 撂

撂

Practice writing 撂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 撂

撂 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他将她____倒,抢走了她的包。

He rugby tackled her and stole her bag.

Example Sentences for 撂 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他将她撂倒,抢走了她的包。

tā jiāng tā liào dǎo, , qiāng zǒu le tā de。

He rugby tackled her and stole her bag.
2
他突然扑过去抱吉姆叔叔的腿,想把他撂倒.

tā tū rán pū guò qù bào jí mǔ shū shū de tuǐ, , xiǎng bǎ tā liào.

He made a sudden dive for UncleJim's legs to try to trip him up.
3
挨了批评就撂挑子是不好的.

āi le pī píng jiù liào tiāo zǐ shì bù hǎo de.

It's bad to throw up one's job just because one's been criticized.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 撂?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 撂

Words Containing This Character2
撂liàoto put down
撂地(of folk artists) to give a performance at a temple fair or on the street etc
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 撂

What does 撂地 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 撂

You can use 撂 when talking about dropping items, like leaving a bag on the ground or abandoning an old piece of furniture.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 撂?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab