轰炸 (hōng zhà) — to bomb (with explosives); to bombard (with questions, criticism, etc.)

Definition

A vivid verb meaning 'to bomb' (literal air attack) and, metaphorically, 'to bombard / pummel' with questions, criticism, etc. — stronger and more forceful than 批评 ('to criticize') or 谴责 ('to condemn verbally').

verb
to bomb (with explosives)to bombard (with questions, criticism, etc.)
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 轰炸
    Dí jūn duì chéng shì jìn xíng le duō cì hōng zhà.
    The enemy bombed the city many times.
  • 轰炸
    Jì zhě bèi guān zhòng de wèn tí hōng zhà dé tóu yūn.
    The reporter was bombarded with questions from the audience until he felt dizzy.
  • 轰炸
    Yuǎn chù chuán lái yí zhèn hōng zhà shēng.
    A burst of bombing sounds came from afar.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

hōngbombard
zhàexplode

轰 and 炸 both involve exploding, so together they mean to bomb or bombard.

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 轟; 轰 is its simplified writing.

  • cart
  • cart
  • cart

The traditional form 轟 puts three 車 (cart) together; 轰 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 轰 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 炸 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.