杀

殺

shā

㐅 + 朩

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

shā (verb) to kill; to murder

shā (verb) to attack

shā (verb) to weaken; to reduce

Etymology

Simplified form of 殺. Depicts a person being decapitated.

About

杀 is the simplified form of 殺. The traditional character combined a phonetic left component with the radical 殳 'weapon, halberd' on the right, indicating violent action. The simplified character drops the weapon radical, retaining a modified left part: a cross-like shape over 朩, depicting a person being decapitated. Its meanings include killing, executing, fighting, and by extension reducing or neutralizing something.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他杀了一只鸡。

Ta shale yi zhi ji.

He killed a chicken.

杀菌消毒很重要。

Sha jun xiao du hen zhongyao.

Sterilization and disinfection are very important.

妈妈在厨房杀鱼。

Mama zai chufang sha yu.

Mom is killing fish in the kitchen.

这个故事里有谋杀案。

Zhege gushi li you mousha an.

There is a murder case in this story.

他试图杀价但失败了。

Ta situ sha jia dan shibaile.

He tried to bargain but failed.

这种农药可以杀虫。

Zhe zhong nongyao keyi sha chong.

This pesticide can kill insects.

战争带来了无数杀戮。

Zhanzheng dailaile wushu shalu.

The war brought countless killings.

他因杀人罪被逮捕。

Ta yin sharen zui bei daibu.

He was arrested for murder.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 㐅

Component: 朩

Example Words