汰 tài to eliminate
to eliminate; to scour; to wash out
How to remember 汰: 氵 water + 太 too much = to eliminate. The gold panner swirls water, too much of it, through his pan, trying to eliminate every grain of sand.
Component breakdown
汰 = 氵 water + 太 too much
- 氵 water
- 太 too much
- 大 big
- 丶 a drop
The gold panner swirls water, too much of it, through his pan, trying to eliminate every grain of sand.
How it is used
- To wash out / eliminate - essentially only in 淘汰 (táotài), to eliminate/weed out (in competition or selection).
- 被淘汰 (bèi táotài) = to be knocked out/eliminated; 淘汰赛 = a knockout round.
- 优胜劣汰 (yōushèng-liètài) = survival of the fittest (the superior win, the inferior are weeded out).
- Not used standalone; always paired with 淘.