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毁灭性 (huǐ miè xìng) — destructiveness; devastating nature

Definition

A nominal suffix meaning 'destructive / devastating in nature', used to characterize a force or event (灾难, 战争) rather than a person. Functions as an abstract noun, often paired with 巨大 to intensify.

noun
destructivenessdevastating nature

Examples

  • 毁灭性。
    Zhè chǎng zì rán zāi hài de huǐ miè xìng chāo chū le suǒ yǒu rén de yù liào.
    The devastating nature of this natural disaster exceeded everyone's expectations.
  • 毁灭性，。
    Hé wǔ qì jù yǒu jù dà de huǐ miè xìng, gè guó yìng jǐn shèn shǐ yòng.
    Nuclear weapons have immense destructiveness, and countries should use them with caution.
  • 毁灭性，。
    Zhuān jiā fēn xī le zhè cì dì zhèn de huǐ miè xìng, bìng tí chū le chóng jiàn jì huà.
    Experts analyzed the devastating nature of this earthquake and proposed a reconstruction plan.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

毁灭destroy
毁huǐdestroy灭mièextinguish
联合Coordinate
性xìngnature

毁 and 灭 both mean destroy, and 性 expresses the quality of total destruction.

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 毀; 毁 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 毀 combines 臼 (cracked skull), 工 (tool), and 殳 (hand action) as a man being hit in the head; this explanation is about 毀, not the simplified 毁.

Open 毁 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →
Appears in
Safety & Danger

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