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Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese verb 摧毁 (cuīhuǐ), which means “to destroy,” “demolish,” or “wreck.” This HSK 6 term signifies a complete and forceful annihilation, used for everything from physical structures like buildings and cities to abstract concepts like hope, confidence, and systems. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage with numerous examples.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): cuī huǐ
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 6
Concise Definition: To destroy, demolish, or wreck something completely and forcefully.
In a Nutshell: Think of 摧毁 (cuīhuǐ) as destruction on a grand scale. It’s not just about breaking something; it’s about utterly ruining it, leaving nothing of value behind. This word implies force, intention, and finality. You don't “摧毁” a coffee mug, but an army might “摧毁” an enemy base, or a hurricane could “摧毁” a coastal town.
Character Breakdown
摧 (cuī): This character combines the hand radical (扌), which signifies an action done with the hands, and 崔 (cuī), which depicts a high mountain. Together, they create a vivid image of using force to push over or break down something immense and powerful, like a mountain.
毁 (huǐ): This character is composed of 土 (tǔ), meaning “earth” or “soil,” and a component that suggests a tool for pounding or breaking. The combination suggests smashing something so thoroughly that it is reduced to dust and dirt.
When combined, 摧毁 (cuīhuǐ) literally evokes the idea of “breaking down a mountain and smashing it into the earth”—a powerful and poetic metaphor for total destruction.
Cultural Context and Significance
摧毁 (cuīhuǐ) is a word with significant weight in Chinese, often found in historical, political, and military contexts. It's used to describe the fall of dynasties, the eradication of old, corrupt systems (e.g., 摧毁封建制度 - “destroy the feudal system”), or the complete defeat of an enemy. Its usage implies a momentous, often violent, change.
Metaphorically, it reflects a deep understanding of how non-physical things can be utterly shattered. Phrases like 摧毁信心 (cuīhuǐ xìnxīn), “to destroy one's confidence,” are common and highlight the devastating impact that words or events can have on a person's spirit.
Comparison to Western Concepts: While “destroy” is a close English equivalent, 摧毁 (cuīhuǐ) often carries a stronger connotation of active, deliberate force than its English counterpart. For instance, you could say “The fire destroyed the forest” in a passive sense. The Chinese equivalent would likely use a different word unless you wanted to emphasize the fire's violent, overwhelming power, in which case 摧毁 would be perfect. It is more intense than “damage” (破坏) and more forceful than “break” (打破).
Practical Usage in Modern China
Formal and Written Contexts:摧毁 is most at home in formal settings. You will frequently see it in news reports about natural disasters (typhoons, earthquakes), military conflicts, or major accidents. It's also standard in historical texts and academic writing.
Metaphorical Usage: In business, a company might aim to 摧毁 a competitor's monopoly. In psychology or self-help, one might talk about how a traumatic event can 摧毁 a person's will (摧毁一个人的意志).
Spoken Language: It is not a common word in casual, everyday conversation. Using it for minor issues would sound overly dramatic. For example, you wouldn't say you “摧毁” your phone by dropping it; you'd more likely say you 摔坏了 (shuāi huài le) - “broke it by dropping.”
Connotation: Overwhelmingly negative. It describes a destructive, often tragic, event or action.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
强烈的地震几乎摧毁了整座城市。
Pinyin: Qiángliè de dìzhèn jīhū cuīhuǐ le zhěng zuò chéngshì.
English: The powerful earthquake almost destroyed the entire city.
Analysis: This is a classic example of using 摧毁 for large-scale physical destruction caused by a natural disaster.
Example 2:
这次失败彻底摧毁了他的自信心。
Pinyin: Zhè cì shībài chèdǐ cuīhuǐ le tā de zìxìnxīn.
English: This failure completely destroyed his self-confidence.
Analysis: A perfect example of the word's metaphorical use. The destruction is emotional and psychological, not physical. The adverb 彻底 (chèdǐ - “thoroughly”) often accompanies 摧毁.
Example 3:
我们的目标是摧毁敌人的指挥中心。
Pinyin: Wǒmen de mùbiāo shì cuīhuǐ dí'rén de zhǐhuī zhōngxīn.
English: Our objective is to destroy the enemy's command center.
Analysis: This demonstrates the word's common usage in a military context, implying complete annihilation of a target.
Example 4:
洪水摧毁了农田和房屋。
Pinyin: Hóngshuǐ cuīhuǐ le nóngtián hé fángwū.
English: The flood destroyed the farmland and houses.
Analysis: Similar to the earthquake example, this shows 摧毁 used for widespread damage from a natural event.
Example 5:
谣言可以摧毁一个人的声誉。
Pinyin: Yáoyán kěyǐ cuīhuǐ yí ge rén de shēngyù.
English: Rumors can destroy a person's reputation.
Analysis: Another abstract usage. A reputation, once destroyed, is incredibly difficult to rebuild, fitting the finality of 摧毁.
Example 6:
别让一次考试摧毁你对未来的希望。
Pinyin: Bié ràng yí cì kǎoshì cuīhuǐ nǐ duì wèilái de xīwàng.
English: Don't let one exam destroy your hope for the future.
Analysis: This is an example of how the word might be used in advice, warning against letting a setback have a totally devastating emotional impact.
English: This new type of weapon can destroy reinforced fortifications.
Analysis: Highlights the idea of overcoming something strong and resistant. The weapon doesn't just damage the fortification; it obliterates it.
Example 8:
经济危机摧毁了无数小企业。
Pinyin: Jīngjì wēijī cuīhuǐ le wúshù xiǎo qǐyè.
English: The economic crisis destroyed countless small businesses.
Analysis: Here, the destructive force is abstract (an economic crisis), but its effect is concrete and total for the businesses involved.
Example 9:
他的背叛摧毁了我们之间所有的信任。
Pinyin: Tā de bèipàn cuīhuǐ le wǒmen zhī jiān suǒyǒu de xìnrèn.
English: His betrayal destroyed all the trust between us.
Analysis: This shows 摧毁 applied to relationships. The trust isn't just damaged; it's gone completely.
Example 10:
病毒摧毁了电脑里的全部重要文件。
Pinyin: Bìngdú cuīhuǐ le diànnǎo lǐ de quánbù zhòngyào wénjiàn.
English: The virus destroyed all the important files on the computer.
Analysis: A modern, technological application. It implies the data is unrecoverable, not just corrupted.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 摧毁 for minor objects.
A common mistake for learners is to use 摧毁 for everyday breaking.
Incorrect: 我不小心摧毁了我的杯子。(Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn cuīhuǐ le wǒ de bēizi.)
Correct: 我不小心打碎了我的杯子。(Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn dǎsuì le wǒ de bēizi.) - “I accidentally shattered my cup.”
Reason:摧毁 is far too strong and dramatic for a cup. 打碎 (dǎsuì) is the appropriate word for shattering something fragile.
Nuance: 摧毁 (cuīhuǐ) vs. 破坏 (pòhuài)
These two words are often confused, but their difference is key.
破坏 (pòhuài): Means “to damage,” “to disrupt,” or “to sabotage.” The damage can be partial. A vandal might 破坏 a statue by chipping it, but the statue still exists.
摧毁 (cuīhuǐ): Means “to destroy” completely. If you 摧毁 the statue, it's reduced to a pile of rubble.
Example: 涂鸦破坏了这面墙的美感 (Túyā pòhuài le zhè miàn qiáng de měigǎn - “The graffiti damaged the aesthetic of this wall.”) vs. 推土机摧毁了这面墙 (Tuītǔjī cuīhuǐ le zhè miàn qiáng - “The bulldozer destroyed this wall.”)
Related Terms and Concepts
破坏 (pòhuài) - To damage, disrupt, sabotage. It is less severe than 摧毁 and implies that the object may still be partially intact or repairable.
毁灭 (huǐmiè) - To annihilate, exterminate. A very strong synonym, often implying total extinction or ruin beyond recovery. It carries a sense of cosmic or ultimate finality.
消灭 (xiāomiè) - To eliminate, wipe out. Commonly used for enemies in a war, pests, or diseases. It focuses on making something disappear entirely.
打破 (dǎpò) - To break, shatter. Used for concrete objects (like a window) and abstract concepts (like silence or a record). Much less intense than 摧毁.
弄坏 (nòng huài) - To break something, to ruin. A very common and colloquial term for causing something to stop working or break, often through carelessness.
拆除 (chāichú) - To dismantle, demolish. This is a neutral term for intentionally taking down a building or structure, usually for new construction. It lacks the violent connotation of 摧毁.
崩溃 (bēngkuì) - To collapse, to break down. Describes the process of falling apart, used for buildings, economies, systems, and most famously, for a person's emotional state.