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彻底 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
彻底chèdǐthoroughHSK 5, ad, rank #1624, Medium
彻底chèdǐthoroughlyHSK 5, ad, rank #1624, Medium
彻底chèdǐcompleteHSK 5, ad, rank #1624, Medium
chèdǐ(che4di3) T4
  1. 1thorough
  2. 2thoroughly
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March 24, 2026
彻底(徹底)chèdǐ(che4di3)

彻底 (chè dǐ) means 'thorough' or 'complete,' often used to describe an action or process that is done completely without leaving anything out. It's commonly used in contexts such as cleaning, understanding, or executing a plan, emphasizing the totality and depth of the action.

Frequency#1624DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of thoroughness is often linked to diligence and responsibility, particularly in work and study, reflecting the value placed on effort and attention to detail.

Memory Tip

Think of 彻 (chè) as 'to cut through' and 底 (dǐ) as 'the bottom.' Imagine cutting through layers of dirt to reach the bottom, symbolizing a thorough cleaning or understanding.

Meanings of 彻底

chèdǐ(che4di3)
1thorough
2thoroughly
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 彻底

彻底Simplified
徹底Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#1624Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 彻底

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Podcast: 彻底

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AI Study Notes for 彻底

Quick Contrast

完全 (wánquán) - use 彻底 when emphasizing the thoroughness of an action, while 完全 focuses more on the idea of being whole or entire.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 彻 (chè) as 'to cut through' and 底 (dǐ) as 'the bottom.' Imagine cutting through layers of dirt to reach the bottom, symbolizing a thorough cleaning or understanding.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 彻底 with similar words like 完全 (wánquán), which also means 'complete' but can imply a lack of detail. 彻底 is more about the thoroughness of the action. Use in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful with the tone; it should be pronounced with a strong fourth tone on 彻 and a third tone on 底.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 彻底 connects to other words describing completeness or totality, such as 完整 (wánzhěng) and 完全 (wánquán). Students should focus on using 彻底 in sentences to describe actions or processes to grasp its full nuance.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of thoroughness is often linked to diligence and responsibility, particularly in work and study, reflecting the value placed on effort and attention to detail.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 彻底 with a noun, as in '彻底的工作' (chè dǐ de gōngzuò), which should be '彻底完成工作' (chè dǐ wánchéng gōngzuò) to indicate completing work thoroughly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 彻底

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Component Characters

彻chèthorough
7 strokes彳
View full entry
底de(equivalent to 的 as possessive particle)
HSK 48 strokes广
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Write 彻底

彻
底

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

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Grammar Patterns of 彻底

彻底 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 3 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.

Related grammar lessons2
Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

要做就做个____，别半途而废。

If you're going to do it, do it thoroughly — don't give up halfway.

Example Sentences for 彻底 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我们的目的是要彻底击破围绕他的那些谣言。

wǒ mén de mù de shì yào chè dǐ jī pò wéi rào tā de nà xiē yáo yán。

Our intention was to demolish the rumours that have surrounded him.
2
他们曾保证水管一年前彻底检修过。

tā mén zēng bǎo zhèng shuǐ guǎn yī nián qián chè dǐ jiǎn xiū guò。

They had ensured the plumbing was overhauled a year ago.
3
他把软管铺展开来，把它们彻底冲洗了一下。

tā bǎ ruǎn guǎn pū zhǎn kāi lái， ， bǎ tā mén chè dǐ chōng xǐ le yī。

He uncoiled the hose and gave them a thorough drenching.
4
这艘船有彻底解体的危险。

zhè sōu chuán yǒu chè dǐ jiě tǐ de wēi xiǎn。

There was a danger of the ship breaking up completely.
5
当阿蒂彻底不再上门后，朱莉又找了个男人。

dāng ā dì chè dǐ bù zài shàng mén hòu， ， zhū lì yòu zhǎo le gè nán。

When Artie stopped calling altogether, Julie found a new man.
6
要确保这些瓷砖经过彻底灌浆并且密封好。

yào què bǎo zhè xiē cí zhuān jīng guò chè dǐ guàn jiāng bìng qiě mì fēng hǎo。

Make sure that your tiles are thoroughly grouted and sealed.
7
他不久将会再次发动进攻，彻底毁掉整个和平进程。

tā bù jiǔ jiāng huì zài cì fā dòng jìn gōng， ， chè dǐ huǐ diào zhěng gè hé píng jìn。

He would soon launch a second offensive, killing off the peace process.
8
她会把房子彻底打扫一下。

tā huì bǎ fáng zǐ chè dǐ dǎ sǎo yī xià。

She would clean the house from top to bottom.
9
这些火灾很可能会彻底毁掉这片土地上的森林。

zhè xiē huǒ zāi hěn kě néng huì chè dǐ huǐ diào zhè piàn tǔ dì shàng de sēn lín。

The fires are likely to permanently deforest the land.
10
这艘船上的船员现在都已精疲力竭，彻底丧失了信心。

zhè sōu chuán shàng de chuán yuán xiàn zài dū yǐ jīng pí lì jié， ， chè dǐ sāng shī le xìn。

The ship's crew were now exhausted and utterly demoralized.

Cultural Notes for 彻底

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of thoroughness is often linked to diligence and responsibility, particularly in work and study, reflecting the value placed on effort and attention to detail.

Frequently Asked Questions about 彻底

Yes, 彻底 is appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, making it versatile for learners.