惨重 cǎnzhòng disastrous
How to remember 惨重: 惨 miserable + 重 heavy = disastrous.
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How it is used
- Heavy and disastrous - of losses/casualties - 损失惨重 (sǔnshī cǎnzhòng) heavy losses, 伤亡惨重 (shāngwáng cǎnzhòng) grievous casualties.
- Almost always modifies 损失/伤亡/代价; stresses the severe, grievous scale of damage.
- Formal, common in disaster and war reporting.