About
The character "摧" is structured with the hand radical on the left, denoting manual action, and the component "崔" on the right, which functions primarily as a phonetic indicator while also carrying connotations of height or intensity that contribute to the character's overall sense of forceful impact. Etymologically, it originated from early concepts involving the application of pressure or thrust, with initial meanings centered on actions like pushing, pressing, or causing to bend. Over time, its semantic scope narrowed and intensified to focus more specifically on outcomes of destruction, such as breaking, crushing, or devastating, thereby shifting from a general sense of exerted force to one emphasizing ruin and defeat. This evolution in meaning, from process to result, is reflected in the character's enduring form, which has remained unchanged and continues to visually integrate the idea of human agency with an amplified sense of destructive potential.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
台风摧毁了树木。
疾病摧残了他的健康。
地震摧毁了整个城镇。
失败没有摧垮他的意志。
持续的压力摧残着她的精神。
这场战争摧毁了无数家庭的生活。
经济危机几乎摧垮了该国的金融体系。
长期的环境污染正在摧残着这片土地的生态系统。