灭 miè to extinguish
to extinguish; to wipe out; to extinguish or put out; to go out
How to remember 灭: 一 one + 火 fire = to extinguish. The camp leader throws one bucket of sand over the fire, enough to extinguish it before the children go to bed.
Component breakdown
灭 = 一 one + 火 fire
- 一 one
- 火 fire
The camp leader throws one bucket of sand over the fire, enough to extinguish it before the children go to bed.
How it is used
- To extinguish/wipe out - 灭火 (mièhuǒ) to put out a fire, 熄灭 (xīmiè) to extinguish (a flame/light).
- To annihilate/destroy: 消灭 (xiāomiè) to eliminate, 消灭敌人 wipe out the enemy; 毁灭 (huǐmiè) to destroy utterly.
- 灭绝 (mièjué) = to go extinct: 物种灭绝 species extinction; 灭亡 (mièwáng) = (of a state/regime) to perish.
- 破灭 (pòmiè) = (of hopes/illusions) to be shattered.