A frame dropping method for a video frame and a video sending apparatus are used to perform frame dropping processing on video frames in order to reduce a quantity of dropped frames, enhance video playing smoothness, and improve user experience. A specific solution includes obtaining a video frame sequence of a to-be-sent video, establishing a reference relationship between video frames in the video frame sequence according to a preset criterion, and detecting a data occupation length of buffered video frames in a video sending buffer during a process of sending the video frame sequence, dropping a current to-be-buffered video frame when the data occupation length is greater than a preset threshold, and dropping all video frames in the video frame sequence that reference the current to-be-buffered video frame according to the reference relationship.