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勦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
勦chāoto annihilate, to destroy, to exterminatex, 13 strokes, radical 力
chāo(chao1)chao T1
  1. 1to annihilate, to destroy, to exterminate
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March 24, 2026

勦chāo(chao1)

The character 勦 (chāo) means to annihilate, destroy, or exterminate. It is often used in contexts relating to the complete removal or eradication of something, such as pests or enemies. In literature and historical texts, it may convey a strong sense of finality in destruction.

Strokes13Radical力
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of annihilation often relates to historical conflicts and the eradication of enemies, reflecting the importance of stability and peace in society. The character may also appear in discussions about environmental issues, such as pest control.

Memory Tip

Imagine a powerful warrior wielding a sword (the left component, 力) to strike down an enemy completely (the right component, 巢, which resembles a nest or home). This warrior is on a mission to 'exterminate' threats to his kingdom, thus linking the character to both its meaning and pronunciation, chāo.

Meanings of 勦

chāo(chao1)
1to annihilate, to destroy, to exterminate
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 勦

勦Simplified
13Strokes
力Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 勦

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Podcast: 勦

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AI Study Notes for 勦

Quick Contrast

灭 (miè) - use 勦 (chāo) when emphasizing total annihilation, while 灭 (miè) may imply simply extinguishing or killing.

Usage Notes

勦 is a formal term often found in written Chinese, particularly in literature or legal texts, rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is typically used with objects that can be destroyed or eradicated. Common collocations include 勦灭 (exterminate) and 勦除 (remove).

HSK Study Tips

While 勦 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding this character can enhance your comprehension of related words at higher levels. Focus on its components and how they contribute to meaning, as well as practicing using it in context with other destruction-related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 勦 with similar characters like 超 (chāo, to surpass) due to phonetic similarity. Always ensure to use 勦 in contexts related to destruction or extermination to avoid incorrect usage.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 勦

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Etymology of 勦

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

strength

Semantic (meaning)力
+
Phonetic (sound)巢
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

勦 = 力 + 巢. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 勦

IDS Structure⿰巢力
勦Full Character
=
巢Chao2
left
力Li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 勦?

How to say to annihilate, to destroy, to exterminate in Chinese

“to annihilate, to destroy, to exterminate” in Chinese is勦chāo

The character 勦 (chāo) means to annihilate, destroy, or exterminate. It is often used in contexts relating to the complete removal or eradication of something, such as pests or enemies. In literature and historical texts, it may convey a strong sense of finality in destruction.

When to use 勦

勦 is a formal term often found in written Chinese, particularly in literature or legal texts, rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is typically used with objects that can be destroyed or eradicated. Common collocations include 勦灭 (exterminate) and 勦除 (remove).

勦 or something close to it

灭 (miè) - use 勦 (chāo) when emphasizing total annihilation, while 灭 (miè) may imply simply extinguishing or killing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 勦 with similar characters like 超 (chāo, to surpass) due to phonetic similarity. Always ensure to use 勦 in contexts related to destruction or extermination to avoid incorrect usage.

Write 勦

勦

Practice writing 勦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 勦

Words Containing This Character7
围剿to encircle and annihilate圍剿
剿chāoto destroy
清剿clean-up operation
剿灭to eliminate (by armed force)剿滅
剿匪to send armed forces to suppress
追剿to suppress
包剿to surround and annihilate (bandits)
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 勦

What does 围剿 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 勦

No, 勦 is more often found in formal or literary contexts rather than in casual spoken Chinese.

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