Meanings of 毙
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About 毙
Podcast: 毙
Podcast: 毙
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AI Study Notes for 毙
毙 (bì) vs 杀 (shā) — use 毙 for violent deaths or as a suffix indicating finality, while 杀 is a more general term for killing.
Be cautious when using 毙, as it carries a strong connotation of violence and is not typically used in formal writing. It is informal and often found in colloquial speech or dramatic contexts. Common collocations include 毙命 (bì mìng - to die violently) and can easily be confused with less intense expressions of death.
Although 毙 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can still be useful for students exploring themes of life and death in literature or media. Focus on its connections with other words related to death, such as 死 (sǐ - to die) and 死亡 (sǐwáng - death) for a broader understanding.
Learners often confuse 毙 with 死 (sǐ), leading to misunderstandings about the context of death. For example, saying 毙去 (bì qù) for 'to die' instead of using 死去 (sǐ qù) is incorrect; the former implies a violent context.
Pronunciation of 毙
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Etymology of 毙
Phonosemantic compound. 死 represents the meaning and 比 represents the sound. Simplified form of 斃.
death
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 毙
Phonosemantic compound. 死 represents the meaning and 比 represents the sound. Simplified form of 斃.
- 1The meaning half死 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half比 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaydeath
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 毙? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 毙
Identify the Components
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How to say to kill; to die a violent death in Chinese
“to kill; to die a violent death” in Chinese is毙
The character 毙 (bì) primarily means to kill or to die a violent death. It is often used in contexts involving death by violent means, such as shooting or execution. Additionally, it can serve as a suffix to indicate 'to death' in phrases, emphasizing the finality of an action.
When to use 毙
Be cautious when using 毙, as it carries a strong connotation of violence and is not typically used in formal writing. It is informal and often found in colloquial speech or dramatic contexts. Common collocations include 毙命 (bì mìng - to die violently) and can easily be confused with less intense expressions of death.
毙 or something close to it
毙 (bì) vs 杀 (shā) — use 毙 for violent deaths or as a suffix indicating finality, while 杀 is a more general term for killing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 毙 with 死 (sǐ), leading to misunderstandings about the context of death. For example, saying 毙去 (bì qù) for 'to die' instead of using 死去 (sǐ qù) is incorrect; the former implies a violent context.
Write 毙
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Practice writing 毙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 毙
毙 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
去年12月他们追捕到其中一名匪徒并将其击____。
Last December they hunted down and killed one of the gangsters.
Example Sentences for 毙 (2)
Word Family of 毙
Compound Meaning
What does 毙 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 毙
No, 毙 is more commonly used in informal contexts and can imply violence.
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