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消除 (xiāo chú) — to eliminate, to remove

Definition

Used for gradually getting rid of abstract or intangible things like misunderstandings, doubts, or fatigue. 排除 is sharper for ruling out possibilities or dangers; 破除 is reserved for breaking superstitions or old ideas.

verb
to eliminateto remove

Examples

  • 消除，。
    Wǒ men xū yào xiāo chú wù huì, cái néng jì xù hé zuò.
    We need to clear up the misunderstanding before we can continue cooperating.
  • 消除。
    Yùn dòng kě yǐ bāng zhù xiāo chú shēn tǐ de pí láo.
    Exercise can help eliminate physical fatigue.
  • 消除。
    Zhèng fǔ cǎi qǔ cuò shī xiāo chú fǔ bài xiàn xiàng.
    The government took measures to eliminate corruption.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

消xiāodisappear
除chúremove

消 means to disappear or wipe out, and 除 means to remove, together expressing elimination.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
肖
肖xiào消xiāo
Same sound today

消 has 氵 (water) beside 肖. The water part connects to putting out or making something vanish, and 肖 gives the sound.

Open 消 →

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 →
Appears in
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