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湮灭 (yīn miè) — to annihilate, to completely destroy (literal or abstract, e.g., evidence)

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning to annihilate or wipe out of existence — stronger and more absolute than 消灭, often used of evidence, traces, or civilizations being erased entirely.

verb
to annihilateto completely destroy (literal or abstract, e.g., evidence)

Examples

  • 湮灭。
    Zhàn zhēng bǎ zhěng gè cūn zhuāng yīn miè le.
    The war annihilated the entire village.
  • 湮灭。
    Dà huǒ yīn miè le zhěng piàn sēn lín.
    The big fire destroyed the entire forest.
  • ，湮灭。
    Wèi le yǎn gài zhēn xiàng, tā yīn miè le suǒ yǒu zhèng jù.
    To cover up the truth, he destroyed all the evidence.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

湮yāncover
灭mièdestroy

湮 'cover' and 灭 'destroy' work together to mean complete annihilation.

Characters in this word

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
垔
垔yīn湮
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

湮 pairs 土 (earth) with 垔, which supplies the sound.

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 →
Appears in
Change & Process

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