灭顶之灾 (miè dǐng zhī zāi) — a devastating calamity; a catastrophe that destroys everything
Definition
A formal, literary chengyu for a total, inescapable disaster — ‘calamity that submerges the head.’ Far stronger than everyday 灾难, it implies complete destruction from which there is no recovery.
noun
a devastating calamitya catastrophe that destroys everything
Examples
- 灭顶之灾。Zhè cì jīn róng wēi jī gěi hěn duō gōng sī dài lái le miè dǐng zhī zāi.This financial crisis brought a devastating calamity to many companies.
- ，灭顶之灾。Rú guǒ bù bǎo hù huán jìng, rén lèi kě néng miàn lín miè dǐng zhī zāi.If we don't protect the environment, humanity may face a catastrophic disaster.
- 灭顶之灾。Nà chǎng zhàn zhēng duì zhè ge guó jiā lái shuō shì miè dǐng zhī zāi.That war was a devastating calamity for this country.
Appears in
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