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屠杀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
屠杀túshāto massacreHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #4646, Very Hard
屠杀túshāmassacreHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #4646, Very Hard
屠杀túshābloodbathHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #4646, Very Hard
屠杀túshācarnageHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #4646, Very Hard
túshā(tu2sha1)tu sha T2
  1. 1to massacre
  2. 2massacre
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March 24, 2026

屠杀(屠殺)túshā(tu2sha1)

屠杀 (tú shā) refers to the act of slaughtering or massacring a large number of people, often in a violent and indiscriminate manner. It is commonly used in historical and political contexts to describe events of mass violence, such as genocides or war atrocities.

Strokes17Frequency#4646DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The word 屠杀 is often associated with significant events in Chinese history, such as the Nanjing Massacre, which serves as a reminder of the impact of war and violence in Chinese society. It reflects the serious consideration of historical traumas in contemporary discussions.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'tough' (屠) butcher wielding a 'sharp' (杀) knife, leading to a gruesome scene of slaughter. The '屠' component resembles a knife cutting through meat, while '杀' conveys the action of killing, helping you remember that this word signifies mass killing.

Meanings of 屠杀

túshā(tu2sha1)
1to massacre
2massacre
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About 屠杀

屠杀Simplified
屠殺Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 屠杀

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AI study notes for 屠杀

Quick Contrast

屠杀 (massacre) vs 杀戮 (slaughter) — use 屠杀 for large-scale, often politically motivated violence, while 杀戮 can refer to any act of killing, regardless of scale or context.

Usage Notes

屠杀 is typically used in serious contexts and is considered a formal term. Avoid using it in casual conversation, as it may come off as insensitive. Be mindful of its strong connotations and the contexts in which it is appropriate to use.

HSK Study Tips

屠杀 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but understanding this word can enhance your comprehension of historical texts and discussions about human rights. Focus on its usage in context to grasp its weight and seriousness.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 屠杀 with less intense verbs like 杀 (to kill) or 凶杀 (homicide). For example, saying '他屠杀了一个人' (He massacred one person) is incorrect; it should be used for large-scale events.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 屠杀

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Component characters

屠túto butcher, to slaughter; massacre
11 strokes尸
View full entry
杀shāto kill
HSK 66 strokes木
View full entry

How to say to massacre in Chinese

“to massacre” in Chinese is屠杀túshā

屠杀 (tú shā) refers to the act of slaughtering or massacring a large number of people, often in a violent and indiscriminate manner. It is commonly used in historical and political contexts to describe events of mass violence, such as genocides or war atrocities.

When to use 屠杀

屠杀 is typically used in serious contexts and is considered a formal term. Avoid using it in casual conversation, as it may come off as insensitive. Be mindful of its strong connotations and the contexts in which it is appropriate to use.

屠杀 or something close to it

屠杀 (massacre) vs 杀戮 (slaughter) — use 屠杀 for large-scale, often politically motivated violence, while 杀戮 can refer to any act of killing, regardless of scale or context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 屠杀 with less intense verbs like 杀 (to kill) or 凶杀 (homicide). For example, saying '他屠杀了一个人' (He massacred one person) is incorrect; it should be used for large-scale events.

Write 屠杀

屠
杀

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Cultural Notes for 屠杀

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, while 'massacre' is also a strong term, it often lacks the historical weight that 屠杀 carries in the context of Chinese history and collective memory.

Frequently asked questions about 屠杀

屠杀 specifically refers to mass killings, while 杀 means to kill in general and can refer to individual actions.

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