diū: 丢 - To Lose, To Throw Away, To Lose Face

diū: 丢 - To Lose, To Throw Away, To Lose Face

Quick Summary

Keywords: lose in Chinese, throw away in Chinese, diu, 丢, what does diu mean, how to say lose something in Chinese, Chinese verb for lose, lose face Chinese, 丢脸, diūliǎn, 丢人, diūrén, 丢东西, diū dōngxi
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 丢 (diū), a versatile word that every beginner must know. This page breaks down its core meanings of “to lose” a physical object, “to throw away” or discard something, and its vital cultural role in the concept of “losing face” (丢脸, diūliǎn). Discover how to use 丢 (diū) correctly in everyday conversation, from misplacing your keys to feeling embarrassed, and understand its nuances compared to similar words.

Core Meaning

Pinyin (with tone marks): diū
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 2
Concise Definition: To lose, misplace, throw away, or discard.
In a Nutshell: 丢 (diū) is the fundamental verb for when something is gone. It covers both accidental and intentional loss. If you can't find your phone, you 丢了 (diū le) it. If you're taking out the trash, you're also using 丢. Beyond physical objects, it extends to the abstract but crucial cultural idea of losing your reputation or being embarrassed, often expressed as 丢脸 (diūliǎn).

Character Breakdown

The modern character 丢 is a phono-semantic compound, but its structure offers a simple, memorable story for learners.
去 (qù): The main part of the character means “to go” or “to leave.”
一 (yī): The stroke at the top can be imagined as an object.
By combining them, 丢 vividly paints a picture of an item (一) “going away” (去). This perfectly captures the essence of something being lost, discarded, or gone.

Cultural Context and Significance

The most significant cultural application of 丢 is in the concept of “losing face” (丢脸, diūliǎn).
In Western culture, “embarrassment” is a personal feeling. In Chinese culture, “face” (面子, miànzi) is a more profound concept representing one's social standing, reputation, honor, and dignity within a community. It's a form of social currency.
To 丢脸 (diūliǎn) is more severe than just feeling awkward. It's a public loss of that social currency. It can bring shame not only upon yourself but also upon your family, company, or group. For example, failing an exam is personally embarrassing. But publicly yelling at your parents would be a serious act of 丢脸, as it violates the core value of filial piety and reflects poorly on your family's upbringing.
This highlights a key difference between individualistic Western cultures and the more collectivist nature of Chinese society, where an individual's actions are often seen as a reflection of their entire group.

Practical Usage in Modern China

丢 is an extremely common verb used in various everyday situations.
Losing or Misplacing an Object: This is its most frequent use. It implies you don't know where the item is.
- “My wallet is lost.”
- “I left my book on the bus.”
Throwing Away or Discarding Something: Used for trash, old items, or anything you want to get rid of.
- “Please throw this in the trash can.”
Expressing Embarrassment (Losing Face): Very common in daily speech, often in the form of 丢脸 (diūliǎn) or the more colloquial 丢人 (diūrén).
- “I forgot my lines on stage, it was so embarrassing!”
A Person Being Lost or Left Behind: This usage is serious. 孩子丢了 (háizi diū le) means “the child is lost/missing,” a grave situation. It can also be used more figuratively to mean someone was “dropped” or “abandoned” by a group or company.

Example Sentences

Example 1:
- 我把我的钱包丢了。
- Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ wǒ de qiánbāo diū le.
- English: I lost my wallet.
- Analysis: A classic example of losing an item. The `把 (bǎ)` structure is very common with `丢` to show what object was lost.
Example 2:
- 请把垃圾丢进垃圾桶里。
- Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ lājī diū jìn lājītǒng lǐ.
- English: Please throw the trash into the trash can.
- Analysis: Here, `丢` clearly means “to throw away” or “discard.” The complement `进 (jìn)` specifies the direction.
Example 3:
- 在这么多人面前唱歌跑调，太丢脸了！
- Pinyin: Zài zhème duō rén miànqián chànggē pǎodiào, tài diūliǎn le!
- English: Singing out of tune in front of so many people was so embarrassing!
- Analysis: This demonstrates the set phrase `丢脸 (diūliǎn)`, used to express shame or loss of face.
Example 4:
- 你快别说了，真丢人！
- Pinyin: Nǐ kuài bié shuō le, zhēn diūrén!
- English: Stop talking, it's really embarrassing!
- Analysis: `丢人 (diūrén)` is a slightly more colloquial and common alternative to `丢脸`, perfect for everyday situations.
Example 5:
- 我的小猫丢了，我找了很久。
- Pinyin: Wǒ de xiǎo māo diū le, wǒ zhǎo le hěn jiǔ.
- English: My kitten is lost, I've been looking for a long time.
- Analysis: This shows `丢` used for a living being that has gone missing.
Example 6:
- 我好像把雨伞丢在地铁上了。
- Pinyin: Wǒ hǎoxiàng bǎ yǔsǎn diū zài dìtiě shàng le.
- English: I think I left my umbrella on the subway.
- Analysis: `丢在 (diū zài)…` is a common pattern for saying you've lost something at a specific location.
Example 7:
- 他把球丢了过来。
- Pinyin: Tā bǎ qiú diū le guòlái.
- English: He threw the ball over to me.
- Analysis: This shows a less common, but valid, meaning of `丢` as “to throw.” The directional complement `过来 (guòlái)` is crucial for this meaning. Without it, the sentence could mean “He lost the ball.”
Example 8:
- 这么好的机会，你怎么能把它丢了呢？
- Pinyin: Zhème hǎo de jīhuì, nǐ zěnme néng bǎ tā diū le ne?
- English: How could you let such a good opportunity slip away?
- Analysis: `丢` can also be used for losing abstract things like an opportunity, trust, or a job.
Example 9:
- 他因为一直迟到，把工作丢了。
- Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi yīzhí chídào, bǎ gōngzuò diū le.
- English: He lost his job because he was always late.
- Analysis: A very practical and common way to talk about losing employment.
Example 10:
- 这些旧衣服我准备丢掉。
- Pinyin: Zhèxiē jiù yīfú wǒ zhǔnbèi diūdiào.
- English: I'm planning to throw away these old clothes.
- Analysis: The resultative complement `掉 (diào)` is often added to `丢` to emphasize the completion and finality of the act of “discarding.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

`丢 (diū)` vs. `忘 (wàng)` - The Classic Mistake
- This is the most common pitfall for learners. They are not interchangeable.
- 丢 (diū): To lose. You don't know where the item is. It is gone.
  - *Correct:* 我丢了钥匙。(Wǒ diū le yàoshi.) - “I lost my keys (I can't find them anywhere).”
- 忘 (wàng): To forget. You know where the item is (e.g., at home), you just forgot to bring it.
  - *Correct:* 我忘了带钥匙。(Wǒ wàng le dài yàoshi.) - “I forgot to bring my keys (they are at home).”
- *Incorrect:* 我忘了我的钥匙。(Wǒ wàng le wǒ de yàoshi.) This is a direct, and wrong, translation from English. You must say what you forgot to do (e.g., “forgot to bring”).
“Throw” vs. “Throw Away”
- While `丢` can mean “to throw” (like a ball), it much more commonly means “to throw away” (like trash). The context, and often a directional word like `给 (gěi)` or `过来 (guòlái)`, will make the meaning clear. For simply “to throw,” the verb 扔 (rēng) is often more specific.

Related Terms and Concepts

`扔 (rēng)` - A close synonym for “to throw” and “to throw away.” In the context of discarding trash, `扔` and `丢` are often interchangeable.
`失去 (shīqù)` - A more formal verb for “to lose,” typically used for abstract concepts or things of great value, like one's life, a loved one, or an ability. (e.g., 失去信心 - to lose confidence).
`忘 (wàng)` - To forget. The key distinction to make with `丢`.
`丢脸 (diūliǎn)` - To lose face. The most important cultural compound word using `丢`.
`丢人 (diūrén)` - To be embarrassing, to lose face. A more colloquial version of `丢脸`.
`面子 (miànzi)` - The concept of “face,” social standing, or reputation that one loses when they `丢脸`.
`抛弃 (pāoqì)` - To abandon, desert, or forsake. A much stronger, more negative, and emotionally charged verb than `丢`. You would `抛弃` a family, not misplace your keys.
`遗失 (yíshī)` - A formal, written word for “to lose.” You will often see it on “Lost and Found” (失物招领, shīwù zhāolǐng) signs.

Table of Contents

diū: 丢 - To Lose, To Throw Away, To Lose Face

Quick Summary

Core Meaning

Character Breakdown

Cultural Context and Significance

Practical Usage in Modern China

Example Sentences

Nuances and Common Mistakes

Related Terms and Concepts