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殄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殄tiǎnto end; to exterminateg, 9 strokes, radical 歹
tiǎn(tian3)tian T3
  1. 1to end; to exterminate
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March 24, 2026

殄tiǎn(tian3)

The character 殄 (tiǎn) means to end or to exterminate. It is often used in contexts involving the complete destruction or eradication of something, such as pests or undesirable elements. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but appears in literary or historical texts.

Strokes9Radical歹
Cultural note

The concept of extermination has historical significance in Chinese culture, particularly in the context of pest control and agriculture. The character may appear in discussions around environmental management and ancient texts on warfare.

Memory tip

Think of 殄 as a 'tiger' (the radical 殳 resembles a fierce animal) that ends its prey. The pronunciation 'tiǎn' can remind you of a 'tiger ending' its hunt, emphasizing the finality of the action.

Meanings of 殄

tiǎn(tian3)
1to end; to exterminate
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 殄

殄Simplified
9Strokes
歹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 殄

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AI study notes for 殄

Usage Notes

This character is more formal and may not be commonly used in casual conversation. Be cautious of its strong connotation of destruction; it's not suitable for softer contexts. Common collocations include phrases related to eradication or termination.

HSK Study Tips

Though 殄 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding this word can enrich your vocabulary related to conflict or resolution. Look for patterns with other HSK words that deal with endings, such as 结束 (jiéshù, to end) to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 殄 with similar characters like 结束 (jiéshù), which means to end in a softer sense. For instance, saying '我想殄这个会议' (I want to exterminate this meeting) is incorrect; it should be '我想结束这个会议'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殄

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Etymology of 殄

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

death

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

Origin

殄 = 歹 + 㐱. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 殄

IDS Structure⿰歹㐱
殄Full character
=
歹dai3
left
㐱zhen3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 殄?

How to say to end; to exterminate in Chinese

“to end; to exterminate” in Chinese is殄tiǎn

The character 殄 (tiǎn) means to end or to exterminate. It is often used in contexts involving the complete destruction or eradication of something, such as pests or undesirable elements. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but appears in literary or historical texts.

When to use 殄

This character is more formal and may not be commonly used in casual conversation. Be cautious of its strong connotation of destruction; it's not suitable for softer contexts. Common collocations include phrases related to eradication or termination.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 殄 with similar characters like 结束 (jiéshù), which means to end in a softer sense. For instance, saying '我想殄这个会议' (I want to exterminate this meeting) is incorrect; it should be '我想结束这个会议'.

Write 殄

殄

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

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Word Family of 殄

Words containing this character2
暴殄天物to waste natural resources recklessly
殄tiǎnto exterminate
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 殄

What does 暴殄天物 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 殄

You might say, '他们计划殄灭害虫' (They plan to exterminate the pests).

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