Word

毁灭 (huǐ miè) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 毁灭

动 dòng verb

destroy

战争毁灭了整个城市。

zhàn zhēng huǐ miè le zhěng gè chéng shì

War destroyed the entire city.

Word breakdown

毁 huǐ — damage, ruin

1 摧毁 cuī huǐ — destroy HSK 7
- 摧 to break, smash (forceful action)
- 毁 to destroy, ruin (complete destruction)
Example

地震摧毁了许多建筑物。

dì zhèn cuī huǐ le xǔ duō jiàn zhù wù

The earthquake destroyed many buildings.
2 毁坏 huǐ huài — to destroy HSK 7
- 毁 to destroy, to ruin
- 坏 to break, to damage
Example

战争毁坏了许多建筑物。

zhàn zhēng huǐ huài le xǔ duō jiàn zhù wù

The war destroyed many buildings.
3 烧毁 shāo huǐ — burn down HSK 7
- 烧 burn
- 毁 destroy
Example

大火烧毁了整栋建筑。

dà huǒ shāo huǐ le zhěng dòng jiàn zhù

The fire burned down the entire building.
4 销毁 xiāo huǐ — destroy HSK 7
- 销 eliminate, cancel out
- 毁 destroy, damage
Example

我们需要销毁这些过期文件。

wǒ men xū yào xiāo huǐ zhè xiē guò qī wén jiàn

We need to destroy these expired documents.

灭 miè — extinguish, eliminate

1 扑灭 pū miè — extinguish, put out HSK 6
- 扑 to strike at, rush toward (the action of attacking the fire)
- 灭 to extinguish, eliminate (the result of putting out)
Example

消防员很快就扑灭了火灾。

xiāo fáng yuán hěn kuài jiù pū miè le huǒ zāi

The firefighters quickly extinguished the fire.
2 消灭 xiāo miè — to eliminate, to exterminate, to annihilate HSK 6
- 消 to dissolve, to make disappear
- 灭 to extinguish, to destroy completely
Example

科学家希望消灭这种疾病。

kē xué jiā xī wàng xiāo miè zhè zhǒng jí bìng

Scientists hope to eliminate this disease.
3 歼灭 jiān miè — annihilate HSK 7
- 歼 annihilate, destroy (military sense of total destruction)
- 灭 extinguish, eliminate (reinforces complete eradication)
Example

军队歼灭了敌人的主力部队。

jūn duì jiān miè le dí rén de zhǔ lì bù duì

The army annihilated the enemy's main forces.
4 灭亡 miè wáng — to perish, to be destroyed HSK 7
- 灭 to extinguish, to destroy
- 亡 to perish, to die out
Example

这个古老的文明最终灭亡了。

zhè ge gǔ lǎo de wén míng zuì zhōng miè wáng le

This ancient civilization eventually perished.
5 灭绝 miè jué — to become extinct HSK 7
- 灭 to extinguish, to destroy
- 绝 to cut off completely, to exhaust
Example

我们必须保护濒危物种，防止它们灭绝。

wǒ men bì xū bǎo hù bīn wēi wù zhǒng fáng zhǐ tā men miè jué

We must protect endangered species to prevent them from becoming extinct.

Show more (+2)

6 熄灭 xī miè — to extinguish; to go out HSK 7
- 熄 to put out (fire/light)
- 灭 to extinguish completely
Example

请熄灭香烟。

qǐng xī miè xiāng yān

Please extinguish your cigarette.
7 破灭 pò miè — to be shattered HSK 7
- 破 break, shatter
- 灭 extinguish, perish
Example

他的梦想破灭了。

tā de mèng xiǎng pò miè le

His dreams were shattered.

Structure & writing

1 毁 huǐ — to destroy; to ruin

毁 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 臼 jiù — mortar (stone vessel for grinding or pounding grain)

臼 is a component in 4 characters

HSK 5

插 chā to insert, stick in, or thrust (a long or flat object) into something

HSK 6

舅 jiù maternal uncle

HSK 7

毁 huǐ to destroy; to ruin 舆 yú (lit.) carriage; cart

1.2 工 gōng — worker; working class

工 is a component in 19 characters

HSK 2

红 hóng red (color like fresh blood)

HSK 3

差 chā mistake; error 空 kōng empty; hollow; impractical 轻 qīng light in weight; low in density (opposite of '重')

HSK 4

功 gōng merit; achievement (opposite of 过) 巧 qiǎo clever and skillful; ingenious 式 shì shape or form of an object 江 jiāng a large river 项 xiàng (lit.) back of the neck/nape

HSK 5

贡 gòng to offer tribute to the imperial court

HSK 6

巩 gǒng firm, solid 径 jìng narrow path; footpath 攻 gōng to attack, assault; opposite of 'defend' 虹 hóng rainbow (colorful arc in the sky after rain, with seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)

HSK 7

扛 káng to carry on one's shoulder (without tools) 杠 gàng thick rod or pole 毁 huǐ to destroy; to ruin 缸 gāng large container (jar, vat, or crock) with a narrow base and wide mouth, made of pottery, porcelain, enamel, or glass 诬 wū to falsely accuse; to slander with fabricated facts

1.3 殳 shū — ancient pole weapon made of bamboo or wood, blunt-tipped

殳 is a component in 13 characters

HSK 1

没 méi to not have; to lack

HSK 3

般 bān kind; sort; type

HSK 5

投 tóu to throw toward a target 设 shè to arrange; to set up

HSK 6

疫 yì epidemic; acute infectious disease 股 gǔ thigh (from hip to knee)

HSK 7

役 yì labor service; corvée 殴 ōu to hit (a person) 殷 yīn (lit.) abundant, plentiful 殿 diàn grand hall; palace hall for imperial audience or enshrining deities 毁 huǐ to destroy; to ruin

Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)

毅 yì resolute, firm and unwavering in purpose 馨 xīn (class.) fragrance; sweet scent that carries far

Stroke order

2 灭 miè — go out; stop burning or shining (opposite of 着)

灭 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 一 yī — the smallest positive integer; one (①used before a measure word ②used before a noun ③indicates a single action or a brief/tentative action)

一 is a component in 58 characters

HSK 1