Definitions
(verb)
to kill; to murder
(verb)
to attack
(verb)
to weaken; to reduce
Etymology
Simplified form of 殺. Depicts a person being decapitated.
About
The character "杀" originates from the traditional form "殺", which structurally integrates the radical "殳" indicating weapon-based action and the component "杀" contributing to its phonetic and semantic value. Etymologically centered on causing death, its meaning has broadened to encompass slaughter, execution, and metaphorical extensions such as weakening or eliminating, as in terms like "杀菌" for sterilizing or "杀价" for bargaining down. The simplified form "杀" derives from historical cursive renderings of the traditional character.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他杀了一只鸡。
杀菌消毒很重要。
妈妈在厨房杀鱼。
这个故事里有谋杀案。
他试图杀价但失败了。
这种农药可以杀虫。
战争带来了无数杀戮。
他因杀人罪被逮捕。