放 from HSK Level 1 Vocabulary List

The Chinese character 放 (fàng) is composed of two parts: the radical 扌(shǒu), which indicates an action related to the hand, and the phonetic component 旁 (páng). The original meaning of 放 was "to let go" or "to release", which is still one of its most common meanings today.The character 放 has a rich history and has been used in Chinese for thousands of years. It is found in many ancient texts, including the Analects of Confucius and the Book of Songs. Over time, the meaning of 放 has expanded to include a wide range of related concepts, such as "to put down", "to place", "to send", "to broadcast", and "to relax".The character 放 is also used in many idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 放手一搏 (fàngshǒu yībó) means "to let go and fight with all one's might", while the proverb 放长线，钓大鱼 (fàngchángxiàn, diàodàyú) means "to cast a long line to catch a big fish".In addition to its literal meanings, the character 放 can also be used in a more figurative sense. For example, it can be used to describe someone who is carefree and relaxed, or someone who is generous and willing to give.The character 放 is a versatile and important character in Chinese. It is used in a wide variety of contexts and has a rich history and cultural significance.