Both 投げる (なげる, nageru) and 捨てる (すてる, suteru) involve letting something go, but their meanings are completely different. 投げる is about throwing something through the air, while 捨てる is about throwing something away — discarding it. Let’s make sure you never mix them up.
| 投げる (nageru) | 捨てる (suteru) | |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | To throw (through the air) | To throw away / discard / abandon |
| Focus | Physical action of throwing | Getting rid of something permanently |
| Object returns? | Often yes (a ball, etc.) | No — it’s disposed of |
| Figurative use | 投げ出す (give up) | 捨てる (abandon someone/something) |
投げる — To Throw (Physical Action)
投げる describes the physical act of throwing something through the air. The object doesn’t have to be discarded — you might throw it to someone, or you might just be pitching a ball.
- ボールを投げる。— To throw a ball.
- コインを投げて決めよう。— Let’s flip a coin (lit. throw a coin and decide).
- 石を池に投げた。— I threw a stone into the pond.
- 荷物を部屋の隅に投げた。— I tossed the luggage into the corner of the room.
Figurative extension: 投げ出す (なげだす) means to give up on something or abandon an effort midway (lit. “to throw out”).
捨てる — To Throw Away, Discard, or Abandon
捨てる means you are permanently getting rid of something. The object goes in the trash, or is abandoned for good. It also has a strong figurative meaning of abandoning a person or relationship.
- ゴミを捨てる。— To throw away the trash.
- 古い服を捨てた。— I threw away my old clothes.
- 夢を捨てないで。— Don’t give up your dream (lit. don’t throw away your dream).
- 彼女に捨てられた。— I was dumped by my girlfriend (lit. thrown away).
Key: if something is being permanently disposed of or abandoned, use 捨てる.
Figurative Uses: Giving Up and Abandoning
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 仕事を投げ出す | To abandon/quit a job midway (give up) |
| 夢を捨てる | To give up on a dream (discard it permanently) |
| 彼女に捨てられる | To be dumped (abandoned) by a girlfriend |
| 責任を投げ出す | To shirk responsibility (throw it away impulsively) |
Are you physically throwing something through the air?
YES → 投げる
Are you getting rid of / discarding / abandoning something permanently?
YES → 捨てるNatural Conversations
ねえ、このボール投げて！— Hey, throw me that ball!
いいよ、いくよ！— Sure, here it comes!
この古い雑誌、もう捨てていい？— Can I throw away these old magazines now?
ちょっと待って、その中に大事なのがあるかも。— Wait a moment, there might be something important in there.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 投げる when you mean to throw something away.
❌ このゴミを投げてきて。(This sounds like “throw this garbage somewhere” — physically)
✅ このゴミを捨ててきて。(Throw this garbage away — dispose of it)
Mistake: Using 捨てる when you just mean to toss something to someone.
❌ ボールを捨てて！(This means “throw the ball away/discard it!”)
✅ ボールを投げて！(Throw me the ball!)
Quick Quiz
Choose 投げる or 捨てる:
1. 試合でピッチャーがボールを___。 (The pitcher threw the ball in the game.)
2. もう使わないので、古いノートを___。 (I don’t use them anymore, so I’ll throw away my old notebooks.)
Answers: 1. 投げた 2. 捨てる
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