消 (xiāo) — to eliminate, to dispel, to subside; to while away (time), to pass (time); (used after 不, 只, 何) to need, to require
Definition
A literary/written verb with three main uses: 'to dispel/subside' (怒气消了, vs the more action-oriented 化解); 'to while away' time (paired as 消磨); and the rare 不/只/何 construction meaning 'need' — use 需要 or 需 for this sense today.
verb
to eliminateto dispelto subsideto while away (time)to pass (time)(used after 不, 只, 何) to needto require
Examples
- 消。Tā de nù qì jiàn jiàn xiāo le.His anger gradually subsided.
- 。Tā měi tiān yòng dǎ yóu xì lái xiāo mó shí jiān.He whiles away the time by playing games every day.
- ，。Zhè jiàn shì bù xiāo nǐ shuō, wǒ yě zhī dào.You don't need to say it; I know it too.
Appears in
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