灭菌 (miè jūn) — (verb-object) to sterilize, to disinfect; (noun) sterilization

Definition

A verb-object compound meaning 'to sterilize / disinfect' (kill microbes), common in medical and laboratory contexts. The verb splits as 灭了菌; the noun form 灭菌 refers to the process itself.

verb
(verb-object) to sterilizeto disinfect
noun
sterilization

Examples

  • 。
    Yī shēng zài shǒu shù qián miè le yí cì jūn.
    The doctor sterilized once before the surgery.
  • 灭菌。
    Zhè zhǒng xiāo dú yè kě yǐ yǒu xiào dì miè jūn.
    This disinfectant can effectively sterilize.
  • 灭菌。
    miè jūn Zài yī liáo guò chéng zhōng fēi cháng zhòng yào.
    Sterilization is very important in medical procedures.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

灭mièdestroy
菌jūngerms

灭 means destroy and 菌 means germs, giving the action of killing germs.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 滅; 灭 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
烕
烕miè滅miè
Same sound today

The traditional form 滅 pairs 氵 (water) with 烕 as a sound part to mean extinguish by water; the simplified 灭 is a later shorthand.

Open 灭 →

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
囷
囷qūn菌jūn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 艹 is a plant sign, and the lower 囷 gives the sound.

Open 菌 →

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