屠杀 túshā to massacre
to massacre; to slaughter
How to remember 屠杀: 屠 to butcher + 杀 to kill = to massacre.
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How it is used
- To massacre / slaughter people on a large scale - 侵略者屠杀了无数平民 (qīnlüèzhě túshā le wúshù píngmín) the invaders massacred countless civilians.
- Strong, grave word reserved for mass killing of humans (大屠杀 = massacre/genocide, as in 南京大屠杀). Carries heavy moral condemnation.
- Contrast 宰杀 (zǎishā, butcher animals) and 杀害 (shāhài, murder an individual). Using 屠杀 for one victim overstates it.