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麻醉 (má zuì) — to anesthetize (medically); to numb (figuratively, one's mind or feelings)

Definition

Literally 'to anesthetize' in medicine; figuratively, to numb the mind or feelings to escape reality — softer and more self-deceptive than 腐蚀 or 腐败 (active moral corruption). Often pairs with 自己.

verb
to anesthetize (medically)to numb (figuratively, one's mind or feelings)

Examples

  • 麻醉。
    Yī shēng gěi bìng rén dǎ le má zuì.
    The doctor gave the patient anesthesia.
  • 麻醉，。
    Tā tōng guò hē jiǔ má zuì zì jǐ, zàn shí wàng jì fán nǎo.
    He numbs himself by drinking, temporarily forgetting his worries.
  • 麻醉。
    Cháng qī de yā lì má zuì le tā de gǎn shòu.
    Long-term stress numbed his feelings.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

麻mánumb
醉zuìintoxicated

Numbness and intoxication combine to describe loss of feeling or consciousness.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

麻 combines 厂 and 𣏟 to represent hemp leaves.

Open 麻 →

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
酉酉yǒualcoholic drink
Sound part声符shēngfú
卒
卒zú醉zuì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

醉 combines 酉, a sign for alcoholic drink, with 卒, which supplies the sound.

Open 醉 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Medicine & Treatment

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