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覆灭 (fù miè) — destruction; complete collapse

Definition

A formal, written noun for the total destruction or collapse of a regime, army, or state. Stronger and more literary than 消灭, which can mean ordinary elimination.

noun
destructioncomplete collapse

Examples

  • 覆灭。
    Zhè ge fǎn dòng zhèng quán zuì zhōng fù miè le.
    This reactionary regime ultimately collapsed.
  • 覆灭。
    Dí jūn de fù miè biāo zhì zhe zhàn zhēng de jié shù.
    The enemy's destruction marked the end of the war.
  • ，覆灭。
    Rú guǒ bù jí shí gǎi gé, qǐ yè kě néng huì zǒu xiàng fù miè.
    If reforms aren't made in time, the company may head toward complete collapse.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

覆fùoverturn
灭mièextinguish

覆灭 combines 覆 'overturn' and 灭 'extinguish' to describe total ruin.

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
襾襾yà
Sound part声符shēngfú
復
復fù覆fù
Same sound today

覆 pairs 襾, a part connected to the meaning, with 復, which gives the sound.

Open 覆 →

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
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