为民除害 (wèi mín chú hài) — to eliminate a public scourge / to rid the people of a menace

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning to remove threats or evildoers on behalf of the people — used in writing, news, and speeches to praise heroic action, not in everyday conversation.

idiom
to eliminate a public scourge / to rid the people of a menace

Examples

  • 为民除害，。
    Zhè wèi yīng yǒng de jǐng chá wèi mín chú hài, bǎo hù le quán cūn rén de ān quán.
    This brave police officer eliminated a scourge for the people and protected the whole village.
  • 为民除害，。
    Wǒ men yào tuán jié qǐ lái wèi mín chú hài, ràng shè huì gèng jiā gōng zhèng.
    We must unite to eliminate a public menace and make society more just.
  • 为民除害，。
    Tā mào zhe shēng mìng wēi xiǎn wèi mín chú hài, zuì hòu zhōng yú chéng gōng le.
    He risked his life to eliminate a scourge for the people and finally succeeded.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

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

The early form of 民 shows an eye pierced by a sharp cross-shaped implement, possibly linked to an injured or unclear eye.

Open 民 →

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丯
丯jiè害hài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

害 was borrowed purely for its sound. Its old picture, possibly a house rafter, is unrelated to harm.

Open 害 →

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