Translation guide
How to express the act of throwing away, disposing of, or getting rid of something in Japanese, depending on what is being discarded and the context.
The general act of putting something in the trash or getting rid of an unwanted physical item.
The most common and general verb for 'throw away' or 'discard'. Used for trash, old items, etc. Transitive verb.
ゴミを捨ててください。
Please throw away the trash.
古い雑誌を捨てた。
I threw away the old magazines.
More formal, often used for disposing of large items, industrial waste, or in official contexts. Implies proper disposal.
粗大ゴミを処分する。
Dispose of bulky waste.
Formal term for discarding, often used in legal, business, or environmental contexts (e.g., waste disposal).
産業廃棄物を廃棄する。
Dispose of industrial waste.
Discarding abstract things like thoughts, customs, or digital files.
Also used metaphorically for abandoning ideas, habits, or feelings.
Specifically for deleting digital data, files, or text.
ファイルを削除する。
Delete a file.
Formal term for discarding documents, contracts, or data, often implying destruction or nullification.
契約を破棄する。
Cancel/void a contract.
The act of discarding a card or tile in a game like poker or mahjong.
Used in card games and mahjong for discarding a card/tile.
いらないカードを捨てる。
Discard unwanted cards.
Common in mahjong and some card games for discarding a tile or card. Often used as '牌を切る' (discard a tile).
牌を切る。
Discard a tile.
While 捨てる can be used for abandoning a person (e.g., 恋人を捨てる), it sounds harsh. For leaving someone behind, 置き去りにする or 見捨てる may be more appropriate depending on context.