免掉 (miǎn diào) — to eliminate, to scrap, to get rid of

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to get rid of / eliminate' (a plan, rule, habit, or similar). The result-particle 掉 emphasizes disposal or removal rather than mere change. Compare with 取消 (formal, official cancellation).

verb
to eliminateto scrapto get rid of

Examples

  • 免掉。
    Wǒ men jué dìng miǎn diào zhè ge jì huà.
    We decided to scrap this plan.
  • 免掉。
    Xīn zhèng cè huì miǎn diào bù hé lǐ de jiù guī dìng.
    The new policy will eliminate unreasonable old regulations.
  • 免掉。
    Nǐ yīng gāi miǎn diào zhè ge huài xí guàn.
    You should get rid of this bad habit.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

免miǎnremove
掉diàooff/away

免 means to remove or avoid, and 掉 adds the sense of taking something off or away, giving eliminate.

Characters in this word

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

免 originally drew a man wearing a ceremonial hat. It was later used for meanings such as avoid and exempt.

Open 免 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
卓
卓zhuó掉diào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

掉 is built from 扌 (a hand) and 卓, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 掉 →

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