Translation guide
How to express the act of discarding or disposing of something in Japanese, from casual tossing to formal disposal.
To throw something away, get rid of it, or dispose of it.
The most common and versatile verb for 'throw away'. Used for physical objects, abstract things (like ideas), and can be casual or neutral.
このゴミを捨ててください。
Please throw away this trash.
古い雑誌を捨てた。
I threw away old magazines.
More formal, often used for proper disposal, getting rid of large items, or legal/official contexts.
粗大ゴミを処分する。
Dispose of bulky waste.
書類は適切に処分してください。
Please dispose of the documents properly.
Formal term for discarding, often used in business, manufacturing, or legal contexts (e.g., waste disposal).
産業廃棄物を廃棄する。
Dispose of industrial waste.
To throw something away with a motion, like tossing into a bin.
Literally 'throw and discard'. Implies a careless or forceful tossing action.
空き缶を道に投げ捨てないで。
Don't toss empty cans on the street.
Casual term for littering or carelessly tossing something away. Often used in anti-littering campaigns.
To discard non-physical things like chances, pride, or love.
Same verb as physical discarding, but used metaphorically. Very common.
チャンスを捨てるな。
Don't throw away your chance.
プライドを捨てて謝った。
I threw away my pride and apologized.
Means 'to waste' rather than literally throw away. Used for opportunities, time, money.
せっかくの機会を無駄にした。
I wasted a golden opportunity.
To throw away things you no longer need, often during cleaning or decluttering.
Means 'to tidy up' or 'put away', but often implies throwing away unnecessary items as part of the process.
部屋を片付けるときに、いらない物を捨てた。
When I tidied up my room, I threw away things I didn't need.
A trendy term for decluttering and discarding possessions to simplify life. Popularized by Marie Kondo's method.
断捨離してスッキリした。
I decluttered and feel refreshed.
The English 'throw away' is not the same as 'throw' (投げる, なげる). 'Throw away' means discard, while 'throw' means propel through the air. Use 捨てる for discarding.
When talking about throwing away trash in Japan, you might need to specify the type: 燃えるゴミ (burnable), 燃えないゴミ (non-burnable), 資源ゴミ (recyclable). The verb 捨てる is still used.
タバコのポイ捨てはやめましょう。
Let's stop littering cigarette butts.