Definitions
(adjective)
damaged; broken; incomplete
(adjective)
disabled; handicapped
(adjective)
cruel; brutal; savage
(verb)
to damage; to destroy; to ruin
(adjective)
remnant; remaining
About
The character 残, with its traditional form 殘, is structured from the semantic component 歹, indicating something bad or deleterious, and the phonetic component 戔 (simplified to 戋), which historically carries connotations of cutting or diminishment. Its earliest meanings centered on injuring or destroying, referring to physical harm. Over time, the semantic scope widened to include derived senses such as cruelty, as in 殘忍, and the state of being incomplete or fragmented, as seen in 殘缺. The character's evolution reflects a shift from specific acts of damage to broader abstract notions of malevolence and partial remains, while its structural composition consistently links to themes of harm and deficiency.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个玩具残缺了。
战争带来残酷的后果。
他的行为非常残忍。
社会应该关心残疾人。
残余的敌人被消灭了。
历史留下了残暴的记载。
残存的古迹需要保护。
这场灾难的残局难以收拾。