‘放屁’ literally means 'to release air' — ‘放’ (fàng) means 'to release, let out', and ‘屁’ (pì) means 'flatulence' or 'fart'. As a verb, it refers to the physical act of passing intestinal gas. It is commonly used in informal, everyday speech and carries no medical or clinical tone.

In addition to its literal meaning, ‘放屁’ is widely used figuratively to dismiss something as absurd, false, or nonsensical — similar to English expressions like 'nonsense!' or 'bullshit!'. This figurative use is strongly colloquial and often emphatic or rude, especially when directed at someone’s statement. The dual meaning makes context crucial: in health discussions, it’s neutral; in arguments, it’s highly expressive and potentially offensive.