彻 chè penetrating
penetrating; pervasive
How to remember 彻: 彳 step forward + 切 to cut = penetrating. The chef takes one step forward, starts to cut the onions, and the kitchen fills with a smell so penetrating that everyone cries.
Component breakdown
彻 = 彳 step forward + 切 to cut
- 彳 step forward
- 切 to cut
- 七 seven
- 刀 knife
The chef takes one step forward, starts to cut the onions, and the kitchen fills with a smell so penetrating that everyone cries.
How it is used
- 彻 never appears alone; it's almost always locked into 彻底 (chèdǐ) "thorough, complete", a very common adjective/adverb.
- 彻底改变 (chèdǐ gǎibiàn) - completely change/transform - 彻底 intensifies a change as total, leaving nothing behind.
- 贯彻 (guànchè) is a more formal verb meaning to implement/carry through, typically used for policies: 贯彻执行 (guànchè zhíxíng) - to implement thoroughly.
- 透彻 (tòuchè) describes an analysis or understanding as penetrating/thorough, e.g. 分析得很透彻 (fēnxī de hěn tòuchè).