Definitions

shā to terminate; to cut short; to bring to a stop; to squeeze; to tighten; to damage; variant of 殺|杀[shā]
shà fiend; demon; very; (Tw) SARS (loanword)

Etymology

About

The character "煞" derives from the concept of killing, closely associated with "殺", and its structure incorporates the component "火" (fire) at its base, implying a connection to destructive or intense force. Originally used to denote killing or weakening, its meaning expanded to encompass malignant spirits and the act of bringing something to a halt, evident in modern compounds such as "煞鬼" for evil ghost and "煞车" for braking. This semantic shift is reflected in the character's composition, where the fire element underscores themes of violence or cessation.

Example Sentences Hide

司机突然车。

Sījī tūrán shā chē.

The driver suddenly braked.

住了笑声。

Tā shā zhù le xiào shēng.

He stopped his laughter.

她的脸色白。

Tā de liǎn sè shà bái.

Her face is deathly pale.

他身上有股气。

Tā shēn shàng yǒu gǔ shà qì.

There is a fierce aura about him.

会议很快尾了。

Huìyì hěn kuài shā wěi le.

The meeting concluded quickly.

他用绳子紧行李。

Tā yòng shéngzi shā jǐn xíngli.

He used a rope to tighten the luggage.

为了安全,他不得不住车速。

Wèile ānquán, tā bù dé bù shā zhù chē sù.

For safety, he had to slow down the car speed.

在危急关头,司机果断车,避免了一场事故。

Zài wēijí guāntóu, sījī guǒduàn shā chē, bìmiǎn le yī chǎng shìgù.

At the critical moment, the driver braked decisively, avoiding an accident.