垃圾 lājī trash
trash; refuse; garbage; (colloquial) of poor quality; Taiwan pr.
How to remember 垃圾: 垃 garbage + 圾 garbage = trash.
Characters
How it is used
- Literally means trash/garbage: 扔垃圾 (rēng lājī) throw out the trash, 垃圾桶 (lājītǒng) trash can.
- Colloquially it's also used as an insult meaning "garbage/worthless": 这个电影真垃圾 (zhège diànyǐng zhēn lājī) this movie is trash - casual, informal register.
- Taiwan pronounces it lèsè rather than lājī, so expect both readings depending on region.
Example sentences
- 我去扔垃圾。 Wǒ qù rēng lājī.I'm going to throw out the garbage.
- 别在这儿扔垃圾。 Bié zài zhèér rēng lājī.Don't throw trash here.
- 别忘了把垃圾拿出去。 Biéwàngle bǎ lājī náchū qù.Don't forget to take out the garbage.