毁

毀/燬/譭
huǐ
殳 + 𬛸
HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

huǐ (verb) to destroy; to damage; to ruin
huǐ (verb) to defame; to slander

Etymology

Simplified form of 毀. Phonosemantic compound. 毇 represents the sound and 土 represents the meaning.

About

毁 is the simplified form of the traditional character 毀, a phonosemantic compound combining the meaning element 土 ('earth') and the sound element 毇 (huǐ). The 土 component suggests breaking something down to the ground, while 毇 is itself built from 臼 (mortar), 工 (tool), and 殳 (a hand wielding a weapon), evoking forceful pounding and striking. Together they convey destruction through physical force, demolishing structures or objects, and extend figuratively to abstract ruin, such as destroying someone's reputation through defamation or slander.

Example Sentences Hide

战争会毁掉很多家庭。

Zhànzhēng huì huǐdiào hěnduō jiātíng.

War can destroy many families.

大火毁灭了整片森林。

Dàhuǒ huǐmiè le zhěng piàn sēnlín.

The big fire destroyed the entire forest.

别让雨水毁坏了你的画。

Bié ràng yǔshuǐ huǐhuài le nǐ de huà.

Don't let the rain ruin your painting.

谣言毁了他的名誉。

Yáoyán huǐle tā de míngyù.

Rumors ruined his reputation.

这座古迹在战乱中被毁了。

Zhè zuò gǔjì zài zhànluàn zhōng bèi huǐ le.

This historic site was destroyed during the war.

过度开发会毁坏自然环境。

Guòdù kāifā huì huǐhuài zìrán huánjìng.

Overdevelopment can damage the natural environment.

他一时冲动，毁掉了自己的前途。

Tā yīshí chōngdòng, huǐdiàole zìjǐ de qiántú.

In a moment of impulse, he ruined his own future.

他的鲁莽行为毁掉了整个团队多年的努力。

Tā de lǔmǎng xíngwéi huǐdiàole zhěnggè tuánduì duōnián de nǔlì.

His reckless actions destroyed many years of effort by the entire team.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

燬 譭

Component: 殳

没 设 投 段 般 股 役 殿 疫 毅 殷 殴 骰 殁

Component: 𬛸

揑 湼 隉

Example Words

毁灭 摧毁 毁坏 毁容 毁掉 炸毁 烧毁 自毁 诋毁 销毁 坠毁 崩毁 拆毁 损毁 捣毁 撕毁 撞毁 击毁 毁伤 毁损 毁于一旦 毁灭性 毁约 毁谤