剪除 (jiǎn chú) — to wipe out, to eradicate (a threat, obstacle, or undesirable element)

Definition

Literary, written verb meaning 'to root out and destroy' threats, obstacles, or undesirable elements. More forceful and formal than 消除 (eliminate/remove), and broader than 铲除 (which often pairs with concrete enemies or weeds).

verb
to wipe outto eradicate (a threat, obstacle, or undesirable element)

Examples

  • 剪除。
    Zhèng fǔ jué xīn jiǎn chú yí qiè fǔ bài fēn zǐ.
    The government is determined to wipe out all corrupt elements.
  • 剪除。
    Jūn duì chéng gōng jiǎn chú le biān jìng de wǔ zhuāng shì lì.
    The military successfully eradicated the armed forces at the border.
  • ，剪除。
    Wèi le gōng sī fā zhǎn, bì xū jiǎn chú zhè xiē bù liáng zhì dù.
    For the company's development, these bad systems must be eliminated.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

剪jiǎncut
除chúremove

剪 (cut) and 除 (remove) together mean to wipe something out.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
歬
歬qián剪jiǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 剪, 刀 is the knife part and 歬 gives the sound. After 前 came to replace 歬, another 刀 was added to 剪.

Open 剪 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú除chú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

除 is built from 阜 and 余, with 余 giving the sound.

Open 除 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.