熄灭 xīmiè to stop burning
to stop burning; to go out (of fire); to die out; extinguished
How to remember 熄灭: 熄 to extinguish + 灭 to extinguish = to stop burning.
Characters
How it is used
- To go out / be extinguished - of a flame, light, or (figuratively) hope - 蜡烛熄灭了 (làzhú xīmiè le) the candle went out.
- Can be intransitive (goes out) or transitive (put out): 熄灭香烟 (xīmiè xiāngyān) stub out a cigarette.
- More formal/literary than saying 灯灭了; also used for hope or passion dying out (希望熄灭).
Example sentences
- 火熄灭了。 Huǒ xīmiè le.The fire was out.