bǎituō: 擺脫 / 摆脱 - To break away from, to shake off, to get rid of

• Keywords: baituo, 摆脱, 擺脫, get rid of in Chinese, break away from, shake off Chinese, escape a bad situation Chinese, overcome a habit Chinese, 摆脱 meaning, 摆脱 vs 逃脱, Chinese verb for liberation.
• Summary: Learn how to use the powerful Chinese verb 摆脱 (bǎituō), which means to break away from, shake off, or get rid of a negative situation or constraint. This term goes beyond simply “removing” something; it implies a struggle and the resulting liberation from difficulties like poverty, a bad habit, a toxic relationship, or a negative mindset. This guide provides a deep dive into its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage with over 10 example sentences.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǎituō
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To break away from, shake off, or get rid of something undesirable (often abstract).
• In a Nutshell: 摆脱 (bǎituō) is not about throwing away trash. It’s about freeing yourself from something that confines, controls, or burdens you. Imagine shaking off heavy chains or finally escaping the pull of a bad influence. The word carries a strong sense of effort, struggle, and ultimate victory over a persistent negative force. It's the action of achieving freedom.

• 摆 (bǎi): The original meaning includes “to place” or “to arrange,” but it also means “to swing” or “to wave.” Think of the motion of swinging your arms to push something away forcefully.
• 脱 (tuō): This character means “to take off” (like clothes), “to shed” (like a snake sheds its skin), or “to escape.” It directly relates to the idea of removal and freedom.

When combined, 摆脱 (bǎituō) creates a vivid picture: using a swinging, pushing force (摆) to take off or shed (脱) a burden. It’s an active, forceful process of liberation.

摆脱 (bǎituō) is a concept deeply tied to the Chinese value of perseverance and self-improvement (吃苦耐劳, chīkǔ nàiláo - to bear hardships and stand hard work). It's the verb that describes the successful outcome of a long struggle. In Western culture, a similar concept is “to break free.” However, “breaking free” can often have connotations of rebelling against an external authority or institution. 摆脱 (bǎituō), while it can be used that way, is frequently used for more internal and abstract struggles. A person doesn't just “break free” from poverty; they actively 摆脱贫困 (bǎituō pínkùn), implying a long, arduous journey to overcome their economic circumstances. This aligns with the cultural narrative of changing one's destiny (改变命运, gǎibiàn mìngyùn) through grit and determination. It’s less about a single act of rebellion and more about a sustained campaign of self-liberation.

摆脱 (bǎituō) is a versatile and common word used in both formal and informal contexts. Its connotation is almost always positive, as it signifies a successful escape from something negative.

• Personal Growth: This is one of the most common uses. People talk about wanting to 摆脱 a bad habit (坏习惯, huài xíguàn), negative thoughts (负面情绪, fùmiàn qíngxù), or low self-esteem (自卑, zìbēi).
• Socio-Economic Contexts: In news and formal discussions, you'll hear about plans to help regions 摆脱 poverty (贫困, pínkùn) or for the country to 摆脱 its dependence on foreign technology (依赖, yīlài).
• Relationships: It's used to describe leaving a difficult or controlling relationship. Someone might finally 摆脱 an overly controlling partner (控制欲很强的伴侣, kòngzhì yù hěn qiáng de bànlǚ) or the shadow of a past breakup (分手的阴影, fēnshǒu de yīnyǐng).

• Example 1:
  • 他们努力工作，希望能摆脱贫困。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen nǔlì gōngzuò, xīwàng nénggòu bǎituō pínkùn.
  • English: They work hard, hoping to get rid of poverty.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example. 摆脱 here means to escape the entire state of being poor, not just a temporary lack of money. It implies a long-term struggle.
• Example 2:
  • 我终于摆脱了这个坏习惯。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhōngyú bǎituō le zhège huài xíguàn.
  • English: I finally shook off this bad habit.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the internal struggle. Overcoming a habit requires willpower and effort, which is perfectly captured by 摆脱.
• Example 3:
  • 她花了很长时间才摆脱前男友带来的阴影。
  • Pinyin: Tā huāle hěn cháng shíjiān cái bǎituō qián nányǒu dàilái de yīnyǐng.
  • English: It took her a long time to get over the shadow cast by her ex-boyfriend.
  • Analysis: Here, the “thing” being escaped is abstract and psychological—a “shadow” (阴影, yīnyǐng). 摆脱 is ideal for these non-physical constraints.
• Example 4:
  • 经过多年的努力，公司终于摆脱了财务危机。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò duōnián de nǔlì, gōngsī zhōngyú bǎituō le cáiwù wēijī.
  • English: After years of hard work, the company finally broke free from its financial crisis.
  • Analysis: This applies the concept to a corporate entity. The financial crisis is seen as a trap or a burden that the company actively fought to escape.
• Example 5:
  • 那个小偷在小巷里快速奔跑，试图摆脱警察。
  • Pinyin: Nàge xiǎotōu zài xiǎoxiàng lǐ kuàisù bēnpǎo, shìtú bǎituō jǐngchá.
  • English: The thief ran quickly through the alley, trying to shake off the police.
  • Analysis: This is a more literal use, but still fits. The police pursuit is a persistent, negative situation that the thief is actively trying to escape.
• Example 6:
  • 你需要摆脱那些不切实际的幻想。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào bǎituō nàxiē búqièshíjì de huànxiǎng.
  • English: You need to rid yourself of those unrealistic fantasies.
  • Analysis: This shows 摆脱 used as advice. It frames “unrealistic fantasies” as something that holds a person back.
• Example 7:
  • 这个国家正在努力摆脱对进口能源的依赖。
  • Pinyin: Zhège guójiā zhèngzài nǔlì bǎituō duì jìnkǒu néngyuán de yīlài.
  • English: This country is striving to break its dependence on imported energy.
  • Analysis: A common formal usage in economics and politics. “Dependence” (依赖, yīlài) is a state of being that a nation might struggle to change.
• Example 8:
  • 他想尽办法，就是为了摆脱这项无聊的工作。
  • Pinyin: Tā xiǎng jìn bànfǎ, jiùshì wèile bǎituō zhè xiàng wúliáo de gōngzuò.
  • English: He tried every method possible just to get away from this boring job.
  • Analysis: Highlights the feeling of being trapped by a task or job and the desire to be free from it.
• Example 9:
  • 运动员必须摆脱对失败的恐惧才能发挥出最佳水平。
  • Pinyin: Yùndòngyuán bìxū bǎituō duì shībài de kǒngjù cáinéng fāhuī chū zuìjiā shuǐpíng.
  • English: Athletes must overcome their fear of failure to perform at their best.
  • Analysis: Fear is another perfect abstract concept to use with 摆脱. It's an internal obstacle that must be actively fought and shed.
• Example 10:
  • 我们应该摆脱陈旧的观念，接受新思想。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yīnggāi bǎituō chénjiù de guānniàn, jiēshòu xīn sīxiǎng.
  • English: We should cast off outdated ideas and embrace new ways of thinking.
  • Analysis: This is used in a social or philosophical context. Outdated concepts (陈旧的观念, chénjiù de guānniàn) are presented as a burden holding back progress.

• `摆脱 (bǎituō)` vs. `逃脱 (táotuō)`: `逃脱 (táotuō)` means “to escape” and implies a more urgent, physical flight from immediate danger, like escaping a fire (从火灾中逃脱) or a prison. 摆脱 is usually about a longer-term struggle against a more abstract or persistent condition (like poverty, a habit, or a reputation). You `逃脱` a kidnapper, but you `摆脱` a bad reputation.
• `摆脱 (bǎituō)` vs. `离开 (líkāi)`: `离开 (líkāi)` simply means “to leave” a person or place. It's neutral. You `离开` the office at 5 PM. 摆脱 implies that the person or place was a source of negativity or constraint. You `摆脱` a toxic work environment.
• `摆脱 (bǎituō)` vs. `扔掉 (rēngdiào)`: This is a common mistake for learners. 摆脱 cannot be used for getting rid of simple physical objects.
  • Incorrect: 我想摆脱这些旧衣服。 (Wǒ xiǎng bǎituō zhèxiē jiù yīfu.)
  • Correct: 我想扔掉这些旧衣服。 (Wǒ xiǎng rēngdiào zhèxiē jiù yīfu.) - I want to throw away these old clothes.
  • You can only 摆脱 something that has a hold on you. Old clothes don't.

• 逃脱 (táotuō) - To escape. More focused on urgent, physical flight from danger.
• 解脱 (jiětuō) - To be freed, to find relief. More passive and has a stronger sense of psychological or spiritual unburdening. You feel `解脱` *after* you have `摆脱` a problem.
• 挣脱 (zhēngtuō) - To struggle free. Emphasizes the physical act of breaking restraints (e.g., struggling to break free from ropes).
• 甩掉 (shuǎidiào) - Literally “to fling off.” A colloquial term for shaking off a pursuer or “dumping” someone in a relationship. More informal than `摆脱`.
• 克服 (kèfú) - To overcome (a difficulty, a weakness). This is often the process that enables you to `摆脱` something. You `克服` your fear to `摆脱` its control.
• 放弃 (fàngqì) - To give up. An antonymic concept. `放弃` is admitting defeat in a struggle, whereas `摆脱` is claiming victory.
• 依赖 (yīlài) - Dependence. A common state or condition that one often seeks to `摆脱`.
• 束缚 (shùfù) - Fetters, shackles, constraints. A noun describing what you want to `摆脱`.