Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
消灭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
消灭xiāomièto put an end toHSK 6, v, rank #3236, Hard
消灭xiāomièto annihilateHSK 6, v, rank #3236, Hard
消灭xiāomièto cause to perishHSK 6, v, rank #3236, Hard
消灭xiāomièto perishHSK 6, v, rank #3236, Hard
消灭xiāomièannihilation (in quantum field theory)HSK 6, v, rank #3236, Hard
xiāomiè(xiao1mie4) T1
  1. 1to put an end to
  2. 2to annihilate
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
消灭(消滅)xiāomiè(xiao1mie4)

消灭 (xiāo miè) means to completely eliminate or destroy something, often implying a total annihilation. It is commonly used in contexts such as military operations, environmental issues, or even in a metaphorical sense to describe the eradication of negative aspects like poverty or ignorance.

Frequency#3236DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 消灭 is not only used in military contexts but also in discussions about social issues, reflecting a strong emphasis on collective responsibility and the need to eradicate societal problems like corruption or pollution.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fierce warrior named 'Xiao' who is on a mission to 'melt' away all obstacles in his path. The character 消 (xiāo) looks like a melting figure, while 灭 (miè) resembles a fiery end, symbolizing annihilation. Together, they depict the act of completely removing something from existence.

Meanings of 消灭

xiāomiè(xiao1mie4)
1to put an end to
2to annihilate
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 消灭

消灭Simplified
消滅Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3236Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 消灭

JasonAmy

Podcast: 消灭

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 消灭

Quick Contrast

消除 (xiāochú) vs 消灭 (xiāomiè): use 消除 for removal or alleviation without total destruction, while 消灭 implies complete annihilation.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a fierce warrior named 'Xiao' who is on a mission to 'melt' away all obstacles in his path. The character 消 (xiāo) looks like a melting figure, while 灭 (miè) resembles a fiery end, symbolizing annihilation. Together, they depict the act of completely removing something from existence.

Usage Notes

Be careful to use 消灭 in contexts where total destruction is intended, as it may sound too harsh in more sensitive situations. It is generally more formal and may not be suitable for casual conversation. Common collocations include 消灭敌人 (annihilate the enemy) and 消灭病毒 (eliminate the virus).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 消灭 connects to other verbs of destruction or removal, such as 破坏 (pò huài) and 消失 (xiāo shī). Focus on the nuances of context where complete elimination is required versus other forms of reduction or disappearance.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 消灭 is not only used in military contexts but also in discussions about social issues, reflecting a strong emphasis on collective responsibility and the need to eradicate societal problems like corruption or pollution.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 消灭 with 结束, using it incorrectly in situations where annihilation is not intended. For example, saying '我要消灭这个会议' (I want to annihilate this meeting) is incorrect; a better choice would be '我要结束这个会议' (I want to end this meeting).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 消灭

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 消灭 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

消xiāoto disappear
HSK 710 strokes氵
View full entry
灭mièto extinguish or put out
HSK 65 strokes火
View full entry

Write 消灭

消
灭

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 消灭

消灭 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 5 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.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

广播电台声称已经____了87,000名“反动分子”。

The radio station claimed that 87,000 "reactionaries" had been eliminated.

Example Sentences for 消灭 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
广播电台声称已经消灭了87,000名“反动分子”。

guǎng bō diàn tái shēng chēng yǐ jīng xiāo miè le87,000 87,000“ míng “ fǎn dòng”。

The radio station claimed that 87,000 "reactionaries" had been eliminated.
2
成吉思汗, 塔马兰在狂热的开疆拓土中消灭了所有反抗他们的人.

chéng jí sī hàn, , tǎ mǎ lán zài kuáng rè de kāi jiāng tuò tǔ zhōng xiāo miè le suǒ yǒu fǎn kàng tā mén de.

Khan, Tamerlans in the fury of conquest exterminated all who resisted them.
3
也许在海里,他可以恢复自制 — 消灭这阵狂热.

yě xǔ zài hǎi lǐ, , tā kě yǐ huī fù zì— zhì — xiāo miè zhè zhèn.

Perhaps in the sea he could get back his control - lose this fever!

Cultural Notes for 消灭

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, 消灭 is not only used in military contexts but also in discussions about social issues, reflecting a strong emphasis on collective responsibility and the need to eradicate societal problems like corruption or pollution.

Frequently Asked Questions about 消灭

消灭 implies a complete and total elimination, while 结束 means to bring something to an end but not necessarily destroy it.