捨てる in 30 Sekunden
- Suteru is the primary Japanese verb for 'to throw away' trash or unwanted physical items.
- It also metaphorically means to abandon people, dreams, pride, or responsibilities.
- As an Ichidan verb, it conjugates easily (sutemasu, suteta, sutenai).
- Culturally, it is tied to strict Japanese garbage disposal rules and social harmony.
The Japanese verb 捨てる (suteru) is a foundational Ichidan verb primarily meaning 'to throw away' or 'to discard.' At its most basic level, it refers to the physical act of disposing of trash or unwanted items. However, its semantic range extends far beyond the garbage bin, encompassing the abandonment of ideas, the desertion of people, and the relinquishing of hope. In the context of Japanese society, where waste management is a meticulous and culturally significant practice, understanding 'suteru' involves more than just knowing the translation; it involves understanding the social responsibility of disposal.
- Physical Disposal
- The act of putting trash in a designated area. For example, gomi o suteru (to throw away trash).
- Abstract Abandonment
- Giving up on a plan, a dream, or a feeling. Yume o suteru (to give up on a dream).
- Social Desertion
- Leaving someone behind or ending a relationship coldly. Kazoku o suteru (to abandon one's family).
「いらなくなった服を捨てました。」
When you use 'suteru', you are implying a finality. Unlike 'oku' (to put) or 'hanasu' (to let go), 'suteru' often suggests that the item or concept is no longer of value to the subject. This nuance is critical in professional settings where 'discarding' a project might sound more harsh than 'postponing' it. In literature, it is often used to depict tragic figures who have 'discarded their humanity' (human o suteru) to achieve a goal.
「プライドを捨てて謝った。」
- Emotional Weight
- Using this verb for people is extremely strong and usually negative, implying a total lack of care.
As an Ichidan verb, 捨てる is relatively simple to conjugate. You simply drop the final 'ru' and add the appropriate suffix. This consistency makes it a favorite for beginners, yet its versatility keeps it relevant for advanced speakers. The most common particle used with 'suteru' is を (o), indicating the object being discarded.
- Polite Present: 捨てます (sutemasu)
- Plain Past: 捨てた (suteta)
- Te-form: 捨てて (sutete) - used for requests or sequences.
- Negative: 捨てない (sutenai)
「ここにゴミを捨てないでください。」
One advanced usage is the compound verb form 〜捨てる. For example, nagesuteru (to throw away carelessly) or shite-suteru (to do and then abandon). This adds a layer of 'carelessness' or 'disregard' to the action. When talking about digital data, 'suteru' is often replaced by 'sakujo suru' (to delete), but in casual conversation, you might still hear 'suteru' when referring to clearing out old files.
You will encounter 捨てる in a variety of daily life scenarios. The most frequent is likely the morning routine of garbage disposal. Japanese apartment buildings and neighborhoods have specific 'gomi-sute-ba' (garbage disposal sites). Signs in parks, stations, and streets will often say 「ポイ捨て禁止」 (Poi-sute kinshi), which means 'No littering.'
- In the Home
- Parents telling children to clean up: 「使わないおもちゃは捨てなさい！」 (Throw away toys you don't use!)
- In Business
- Discussing outdated stock or failed projects: 「この計画は捨てましょう。」 (Let's scrap this plan.)
「古い書類を全部捨てました。」
In anime and drama, 'suteru' is a high-drama word. A character might shout, 「俺を捨てるのか？！」 (Are you abandoning me?!). This highlights the emotional weight the word carries when applied to human relationships. It's also common in self-help contexts, like the popular 'Danshari' (decluttering) movement, where 'suteru' is the first step toward spiritual clarity.
Learners often confuse 捨てる with other verbs related to 'leaving' or 'putting.' The most common mistake is using 'suteru' when they actually mean 'to leave behind' (oite kuru) or 'to lose' (nakusu).
- Mistaking for 'Lost': If you lost your wallet, don't say saifu o suteta. That means you intentionally threw your wallet in the trash. Say saifu o nakushita.
- Mistaking for 'Leave': If you left your umbrella at the station, don't say kasa o suteta. Say kasa o wasureta or oite kita.
「間違えて大切な手紙を捨ててしまった。」
Another mistake is using 'suteru' for 'to quit' a job. While you can 'suteru' a career (abandon it), the standard word for quitting a job is yameru. Using 'suteru' implies a much more dramatic and perhaps irresponsible departure.
Japanese has several words for 'discarding' or 'getting rid of,' each with specific nuances. Understanding these helps you sound more natural.
- 廃棄する (Haiki suru)
- A formal, technical term for disposal, often used for industrial waste or expiring products in a store.
- 放る (Houru)
- To toss or throw away casually, often with a sense of neglect. More common in Kansai dialect but understood everywhere.
- 手放す (Tebanasu)
- To let go of something, often something you once valued. It sounds more positive and less 'trashy' than suteru.
「期限切れの食品を廃棄した。」
When you want to say 'get rid of' in a way that implies cleaning up, katazukeru (to tidy up) is often a better choice if the items aren't actually going into the trash.
How Formal Is It?
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Wichtige Grammatik
~te shimau (completion/regret)
~te mo ii (permission)
~nai de kudasai (negative request)
~nasai (command)
~you ni suru (effort)
Beispiele nach Niveau
ゴミを捨てます。
I throw away the trash.
Direct object marker 'o' is used.
ここに捨てないでください。
Please do not throw (it) away here.
Negative request form '~nai de kudasai'.
古い紙を捨てました。
I threw away old paper.
Past tense polite form '~mashita'.
これを捨ててもいいですか？
May I throw this away?
Asking permission using '~te mo ii desu ka'.
毎日ゴミを捨てます。
I throw away trash every day.
Habitual action in present tense.
ゴミを捨てに行きます。
I am going to throw away the trash.
Purpose of movement: verb stem + ni ikimasu.
お母さんはゴミを捨てました。
My mother threw away the trash.
Subject marker 'wa' with past tense.
あそこに捨てましょう。
Let's throw it away over there.
Volitional/Suggestive form '~mashou'.
部屋を掃除して、ゴミを捨てた。
I cleaned the room and threw away the trash.
Te-form used to connect two actions.
いらない服を捨てたいです。
I want to throw away clothes I don't need.
Desire form '~tai'.
これはまだ捨てないで。
Don't throw this away yet.
Casual negative command '~nai de'.
ゴミを捨てる場所はどこですか？
Where is the place to throw away trash?
Noun modification: verb + basho.
昨日、たくさんゴミを捨てました。
I threw away a lot of trash yesterday.
Adverb 'takusan' modifying the action.
食べ物を捨てないようにしましょう。
Let's try not to throw away food.
'~nai you ni suru' expressing an effort or goal.
ゴミを捨てたら、手を洗ってください。
After you throw away the trash, please wash your hands.
Conditional '~tara' indicating 'after'.
彼は何でも捨ててしまいます。
He ends up throwing everything away.
'~te shimau' indicating a habit or completion.
彼は夢を捨てて、サラリーマンになった。
He gave up his dream and became an office worker.
Abstract use of 'suteru' for dreams.
大切な思い出を捨てることはできない。
I cannot throw away precious memories.
Nominalization 'koto' with potential negation.
この計画はもう捨てたほうがいい。
It's better to scrap this plan already.
Giving advice with '~ta hou ga ii'.
プライドを捨てて、彼に謝った。
I threw away my pride and apologized to him.
Metaphorical use for emotions/traits.
そんな考えは捨てなさい。
Throw away such thoughts (Stop thinking like that).
Imperative form '~nasai'.
彼は家族を捨てて、どこかへ行った。
He abandoned his family and went somewhere.
Strong negative connotation of 'abandoning'.
捨てられた猫を助けました。
I rescued an abandoned cat.
Passive form 'suterareta' as an adjective.
ゴミを捨てるルールを守ってください。
Please follow the rules for disposing of trash.
Noun modification 'suteru rule'.
過去を捨てて、新しい人生を歩む。
I will cast aside my past and lead a new life.
Literary/Dramatic use of 'suteru'.
不法投棄は法律で禁じられている。
Illegal dumping is prohibited by law.
Related noun 'touki' (dumping).
彼は地位も名誉も捨てて、修行に出た。
He cast aside both status and honor and went on a spiritual journey.
Listing abstract objects with 'mo... mo...'.
そのチャンスを捨てるのはもったいない。
It's a waste to throw away that chance.
Nominalization 'no wa' with 'mottainai'.
古い習慣を捨てるのは難しい。
It is difficult to discard old habits.
Abstract use for habits.
彼は一瞬、命を捨てようと考えた。
For a moment, he thought about throwing away his life.
Volitional form + 'to kangaeta'.
使い捨てのカメラがまた流行っている。
Disposable cameras are becoming popular again.
Compound noun 'tsukai-sute' (disposable).
ゴミの捨て方について、市役所に問い合わせた。
I inquired at the city hall about how to dispose of trash.
Compound noun 'sute-kata' (way of throwing away).
偏見を捨てて、客観的に判断すべきだ。
One should cast aside prejudice and judge objectively.
Formal advice using 'subeki'.
彼は信念を捨てるくらいなら、死を選ぶだろう。
He would rather choose death than abandon his beliefs.
Comparison 'kurai nara'.
この理論は、もはや捨て去られるべき運命にある。
This theory is destined to be discarded already.
Compound verb 'sute-saru' (to discard completely).
世俗の欲を捨てて、山にこもる。
To cast off worldly desires and seclude oneself in the mountains.
Literary/Religious context.
彼は情を捨てて、冷徹な決断を下した。
He cast aside emotion and made a cold-blooded decision.
Abstract psychological use.
不要な贅肉を捨てて、理想の体型を目指す。
To shed unnecessary fat and aim for the ideal physique.
Metaphorical use for body weight.
その作家は、かつての文体を捨て、新境地を開いた。
The author discarded his former style and broke new ground.
Artistic/Creative context.
捨て身の覚悟で、強敵に挑む。
To challenge a powerful enemy with a 'life-discarding' (desperate) resolve.
Idiomatic compound 'sute-mi' (desperation/self-sacrifice).
万策尽きて、彼はついに最後の望みを捨てた。
Having exhausted all options, he finally abandoned his last hope.
Advanced idiom 'bansaku tsukite'.
近代化の過程で、我々は多くの伝統を捨ててきた。
In the process of modernization, we have discarded many traditions.
Historical/Sociological perspective.
彼は自らのアイデンティティを捨て、異国に同化した。
He discarded his own identity and assimilated into a foreign land.
Complex psychological/sociological use.
この法案は、国民の利益を捨て置くものだ。
This bill leaves the interests of the citizens aside (neglects them).
Compound verb 'sute-oku' (to leave as is/neglect).
真理を追究するためには、既成概念を捨てなければならない。
In order to pursue the truth, one must discard preconceived notions.
Philosophical context.
彼は、栄華を極めた生活をあっさりと捨てた。
He easily cast aside a life that had reached the height of prosperity.
Literary expression 'eiga o kiwameta'.
捨て石となって、後進に道を譲る。
To become a 'discarded stone' (sacrifice) to pave the way for successors.
Go (game) metaphor 'sute-ishi'.
言葉を捨てた沈黙の中に、真実がある。
In the silence that has discarded words, there is truth.
Poetic/Abstract use.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
Leicht verwechselbar
Satzmuster
Wortfamilie
Substantive
So verwendest du es
Can be physical (trash) or non-physical (dreams).
Suteru always implies intent. You cannot 'suteru' something by accident without using 'shimau'.
- Using 'suteru' for lost items.
- Using 'suteru' for items left behind at a location.
- Forgetting the 'o' particle.
- Using 'suteru' for quitting a job in a normal way.
- Mispronouncing with a rising pitch.
Tipps
Conjugation
Remember it's an Ichidan verb. Just drop 'ru' and add 'masu' or 'ta'.
Garbage Rules
Always check the local 'gomi' calendar before you 'suteru' anything in Japan.
Compound Verbs
Look out for '~suteru' attached to other verbs like 'nagesuteru'.
Relationships
Avoid using 'suteru' for friends or family unless you are writing a drama script.
Intent
Use 'suteru' only when you mean to get rid of something forever.
Kanji
The kanji 捨 is common; learn it early to read garbage signs.
Politeness
Use 'tebanasu' for items you feel sentimental about but are giving away.
Context
If you hear 'suteru' in a movie, pay attention to the emotional tone.
Mnemonic
Associate the 'hand' radical with the act of throwing.
Digital
Use 'sakujo' for 'delete' in professional IT contexts.
Einprägen
Wortherkunft
Old Japanese. The kanji 捨 combines 'hand' (扌) and 'hut/cottage' (舎), originally suggesting putting something out of the house with one's hands.
Kultureller Kontext
The popular movement of decluttering (Refuse, Dispose, Separate).
Specific days for specific trash. 'Suteru' must happen on the right day.
The contrast between keeping things for guests and discarding the old.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Gesprächseinstiege
"最近、何か捨てたものはありますか？ (Have you thrown anything away recently?)"
"断捨離についてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about decluttering?)"
"ゴミの分別は難しいと思いますか？ (Do you think sorting trash is difficult?)"
"古い思い出の品を捨てられますか？ (Can you throw away items with old memories?)"
"このゴミはどこに捨てればいいですか？ (Where should I throw away this trash?)"
Tagebuch-Impulse
今日捨てたものについて書いてください。 (Write about something you threw away today.)
捨てたいけれど捨てられないものはありますか？ (Is there something you want to throw away but can't?)
「捨てる」という言葉から何を連想しますか？ (What do you associate with the word 'suteru'?)
過去の自分を捨てて新しくなりたいと思ったことはありますか？ (Have you ever wanted to discard your past self and become new?)
日本のゴミ出しルールについて感じたことを書いてください。 (Write about your feelings regarding Japanese garbage rules.)
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, you can use it casually, but 'sakujo suru' is more common for digital files.
It's not rude for trash, but it's very rude when used for people or gifts.
'Suteru' is daily language; 'haiki' is formal/industrial disposal.
It is called 'poi-sute'.
Yes, in phrases like 'yume o suteru' (give up a dream).
It is an Ichidan verb (Ru-verb).
It's a metaphor from the game Go, meaning a sacrifice play.
Usually 'yameru' is used. 'Suteru' implies abandoning it dramatically.
It means 'disposable' (use and throw away).
'Sutenai de' or 'Sutenaide kudasai'.
Teste dich selbst 180 Fragen
Listen and write: 'Sutenaide'
Listen and write: 'Sutemashou'
Listen and write: 'Sutete shimatta'
Listen and write: 'Puraido o suteru'
Listen and write: 'Bansaku tsukite'
Listen and write: 'Meiri o suteru'
Listen and write: 'Gomi'
Listen and write: 'Sutete kudasai'
Listen and write: 'Yume o suteru'
Listen and write: 'Chansu o suteru'
Listen and write: 'Shinkou o suteru'
Listen and write: 'Suteru kami areba hirou kami ari'
Listen and write: 'Sutemasu'
Listen and write: 'Sutenai de'
Listen and write: 'Kazoku o suteru'
Listen and write: 'Tsukai-sute'
Listen and write: 'Sutemi no kakugo'
Listen and write: 'Suteishi ni naru'
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
捨てる (suteru) is a powerful verb that covers everything from daily trash disposal to the dramatic abandonment of one's life or values. It implies an intentional and final act of letting go, often suggesting that the object no longer holds value.
- Suteru is the primary Japanese verb for 'to throw away' trash or unwanted physical items.
- It also metaphorically means to abandon people, dreams, pride, or responsibilities.
- As an Ichidan verb, it conjugates easily (sutemasu, suteta, sutenai).
- Culturally, it is tied to strict Japanese garbage disposal rules and social harmony.
Conjugation
Remember it's an Ichidan verb. Just drop 'ru' and add 'masu' or 'ta'.
Garbage Rules
Always check the local 'gomi' calendar before you 'suteru' anything in Japan.
Compound Verbs
Look out for '~suteru' attached to other verbs like 'nagesuteru'.
Relationships
Avoid using 'suteru' for friends or family unless you are writing a drama script.
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もう少し
B1Noch ein bisschen. (もう少し水をください。 - Noch ein bisschen Wasser, bitte.)
じゅうしょ
A2Die genaue Angabe des Ortes, an dem jemand wohnt.
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A2Adresse, Wohnort. Der Ort, an dem jemand gemeldet ist.
～後
A2after
目覚まし
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目覚まし時計
B1Ein Wecker ist ein Gerät, das Menschen zu einer bestimmten Zeit aufweckt.
ひとりで
A2Alone.
~のに
B1Obwohl; obgleich. Wird verwendet, um Enttäuschung oder Überraschung über einen unerwarteten Ausgang auszudrücken.
ごぜん
A2Gozen bedeutet Vormittag oder A.M. auf Japanisch.
煩い
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