Definition
消 (xiāo) has distinct meanings with different usage patterns. For 'to need', it appears only in fixed phrases after 不, 只, or 何 (e.g., 不消 'need not'), unlike the everyday verb 需要. For 'while away (time)', use the compound 消磨; the bare 消 is rare in this sense. For 'to dispel', 消 is broader (emotions, unease) while 化解 targets conflicts.
verb
to eliminateto dispelto subsideto while away (time)to pass (time)(used after 不, 只, 何) to needto require
Easily confused
- 哨shàolook-alikewhistle
- 小xiǎosound-alikesmall, tiny
- 捎shāolook-aliketo bring something to someone; to deliver
- 笑xiàosound-aliketo laugh
- 销xiāolook-aliketo sell
- 削xiāosound-aliketo pare, to peel (fruit), to sharpen (a pencil)
Examples
- 消。Tā de nùqì jiànjiàn xiāo le.His anger gradually subsided.
- 。Tā měitiān yòng dǎ yóuxì lái xiāo mó shíjiān.He whiles away the time by playing games every day.
- ，。Zhè jiàn shì bù xiāo nǐ shuō, wǒ yě zhīdào.You don't need to say it; I know it too.
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