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杀毒 (shā dú) — (computing) to scan for and eliminate viruses; to run antivirus; to disinfect (less common; use 消毒 in general contexts)

Definition

In modern usage, 杀毒 means 'to scan for and remove computer viruses.' For physical disinfection (surfaces, wounds, rooms), use 消毒 instead.

verb
(computing) to scan for and eliminate virusesto run antivirusto disinfect (less common; use 消毒 in general contexts)

Examples

  • ，杀毒。
    Wǒ de diàn nǎo zhòng dú le, xū yào yùn xíng shā dú ruǎn jiàn.
    My computer got a virus; I need to run antivirus software.
  • 杀毒。
    Zhè ge shā dú chéng xù měi xīng qī zì dòng gēng xīn yí cì.
    This antivirus program updates automatically once a week.
  • 杀毒，。
    Tā zhèng zài gěi shǒu jī shā dú, fáng zhǐ è yì ruǎn jiàn.
    He's scanning his phone for viruses to prevent malware.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

杀shākill
毒dúpoison/virus

杀 kill acts on 毒 poison/virus, so 杀毒 means to destroy harmful germs or viruses.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 殺; 杀 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 殺 comes from an old drawing of a boar impaled in the head, with 人 and 又 added to show a person doing the killing; the simplified 杀 is a later abbreviation.

Open 杀 →

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
屮屮chèvegetation
Sound part声符shēngfú
毐
毐ǎi毒dú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

毒 pairs 屮, a plant part, with 毐 as a sound part; this form was used for a poisonous plant.

Open 毒 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Computers & Internet

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