About
The simplified Chinese character 灭 is formed by placing a horizontal stroke 一 over the fire radical 火, a clear depiction of covering and smothering a flame. It is a simplification of the traditional 滅, which pairs the water radical 氵 (shuǐ) with the phonetic-semantic element 烕 (miè). 烕 combines 火 'fire' and 戌, an ancient weapon, to signify the act of destroying fire, either by dousing it or by force. From the basic meaning 'put out a fire,' the character's use extended to mean destroy, exterminate, or vanish, referring to physical objects, abstract concepts, or entire nations.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请把灯熄灭
火灾被及时扑灭了
他们消灭了所有敌人
这种动物已经灭绝了
我们必须消灭这种病毒
不要熄灭心中的希望
那个文明因战争而灭亡
他的梦想被现实扑灭了
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