不可磨灭 (bù kě mó miè) — indelible; can never be erased

Definition

A formal, written phrase meaning 'indelible, can never be erased' — used for lasting impressions, memories, or contributions. Almost always appears as ∼的 before a noun.

verb
indeliblecan never be erased

Examples

  • 不可磨灭。
    Nà cì jīng lì gěi wǒ liú xià le bù kě mó miè de yìn xiàng.
    That experience left an indelible impression on me.
  • 不可磨灭。
    Tā wèi guó jiā zuò chū le bù kě mó miè de gòng xiàn.
    He made an indelible contribution to the country.
  • 不可磨灭。
    Zhè xiē zhào piàn jì lù le wǒ men bù kě mó miè de yǒu yì.
    These photos document our indelible friendship.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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
石石shírock
Sound part声符shēngfú
靡
靡mí磨mó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

磨 combines 石, showing rock, with 靡 for the sound.

Open 磨 →

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 →

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