放
fàng
To put, to place
放着 (fàng zháo) — leaving something unused
放着 (fàngzhe) + X + 不 (bù) + Y
HSK 63.0
Pattern diagram
Who / what放着What / whom不Action
Rule structure
放着 (fàng zháo)X不 (bù)Y means that a resource or opportunity X is available, but the person does not perform action Y to make use of it. It usually conveys puzzlement or reproach: “X is right there, yet they…”. A contrasting action often follows with 却 (què), “yet” or “instead”.
Rule structure
放着 (fàng zháo)X不 (bù)Y means that a resource or opportunity X is available, but the person does not perform action Y to make use of it. It usually conveys puzzlement or reproach: “X is right there, yet they…”. A contrasting action often follows with 却 (què), “yet” or “instead”.
Examples
他放着热水不喝，却喝冰水。
Tā fàngzhe rèshuǐ bù hē, què hē bīngshuǐ.
There’s hot water right there, yet he chooses to drink ice water.
Examples
他放着热水不喝，却喝冰水。
Tā fàngzhe rèshuǐ bù hē, què hē bīngshuǐ.
There’s hot water right there, yet he chooses to drink ice water.
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “leaving something unused” in Chinese with 放着?
Use the structure: 放着 (fàngzhe) + X + 不 (bù) + Y. For example: 他放着热水不喝，却喝冰水。 — “There’s hot water right there, yet he chooses to drink ice water”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
他放着热水不喝，却喝冰水。 — “There’s hot water right there, yet he chooses to drink ice water”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 6.
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More HSK 3.0 Level 6 grammar rules
算了 vs 得了 — closing a discussion
算了 (suàn le): close the topic / 得了 (dé le): cut the other person off
到 — up to, until
到 (dào) + Time/Limit + 为止 (wéizhǐ)
那倒是 — that's true
那 (nà) + 倒 (dào) + (也 (yě)) + 是 (shì)
这 那 — this and that
Verb + 这 (zhè) + Verb + 那 (nà)
不 — not until you do, then…
不 (bù) + X + 不 (bù) + Result₁，一 (yī) + X + (就 (jiù)) + Result₂
好你个 — expressive address, mock reproach
好 (hǎo) + 你 (nǐ) + 个 (ge) + X (person)
到 — reaching someone personally
X (action/problem) + 到 (dào) + Y (person) + 头上来了 (tóu shang lái le)
早不X，晚不X — why now?
早 (zǎo) + (也 (yě)) + 不 (bù) + X，晚 (wǎn) + (也 (yě)) + 不 (bù) + X