致残 (zhì cán) — (verb) to cause disability; to result in a handicap

Definition

致残 means 'to cause disability / to cripple' — used for accidents, diseases, or substances that result in lasting physical impairment. Note the grammar: it usually takes 导致 / 造成 + 致残, not 致残 on its own with a direct object.

verb
to cause disabilityto result in a handicap

Examples

  • 致残。
    Zhè cì shì gù dǎo zhì liǎng rén zhì cán.
    This accident caused two people to become disabled.
  • ，。
    Jí bìng suī rán ràng tā zhì le cán, dàn tā yī rán hěn lè guān.
    Although the disease disabled him, he still remained very optimistic.
  • 致残。
    Zhè zhǒng yào wù bú huì dǎo zhì huàn zhě zhì cán.
    This medication will not cause patients to become disabled.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

致zhìcause
残cándisabled

致 (cause) and 残 (disabled) combine to mean causing someone to become disabled.

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
攵Written in full as攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
至
至zhì致zhì
Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

Open 致 →

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 殘; 残 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
歹歹dǎivicious, bones
Sound part声符shēngfú
戔
戔jiān殘cán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 殘 pairs 歹, a bone shape for injury, with 戔 for its sound; the simplified 残 is a later shorthand.

Open 残 →

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