What is the difference between "捨てる", "かなぐり捨てる", "一石を投じる", "放り出す"?

"捨てる" means "to throw away, to discard", "かなぐり捨てる" means "to throw away; to cast aside; to fling off (forcefully or completely)", "一石を投じる" means "to throw a stone (into a quiet pond); to cause a stir/sensation; to make a suggestion (to provoke discussion)", "放り出す" means "to throw out, to abandon".

Quadruple VS

Synonym Boundary: "捨てる", "かなぐり捨てる", "一石を投じる", "放り出す"

All represent the core concept "throw", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

捨てる

すてる (suteru)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

かなぐり捨てる

かなぐりすてる (kanaguri suteru)

N2 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

一石を投じる

いっせきをとうじる (isseki wo toujiru)

N1 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

放り出す

ほうりだす (houridasu)

C1 / CEFR

Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "throw" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "捨てる", "かなぐり捨てる", "一石を投じる", "放り出す" based on context.

捨てる (すてる (suteru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to throw away, to discard" and is used when Used for disposing of unwanted items. Can also imply abandoning something..
かなぐり捨てる (かなぐりすてる (kanaguri suteru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to throw away; to cast aside; to fling off (forcefully or completely)" and is used when To forcefully or completely discard something, often something abstract like shame, pride, or hesitation..
一石を投じる (いっせきをとうじる (isseki wo toujiru) - Level: N1): Maps to "to throw a stone (into a quiet pond); to cause a stir/sensation; to make a suggestion (to provoke discussion)" and is used when An idiom meaning to introduce something.
放り出す (ほうりだす (houridasu) - Level: C1): Maps to "to throw out, to abandon" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus..

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

Context for "捨てる"

ごみをゴミ箱に捨ててください。

Please throw the trash in the bin.

Context for "かなぐり捨てる"

彼はプライドをかなぐり捨てて、助けを求めた。

He cast aside his pride and asked for help.

Context for "一石を投じる"

彼の発言が、その議論に大きな一石を投じた。

His remark threw a significant stone into the discussion.

Context for "放り出す"

毎日、日本語を練習するために放り出す。

Every day, I throw out, to abandon to practice Japanese.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "ごみをゴミ箱に捨ててください。" (Meaning: "Please throw the trash in the bin.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "捨てる" is correct here because it represents "to throw away, to discard" in the context: "Please throw the trash in the bin.".