斃 (bì) - to die & to kill

斃Tone 4

bì ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

斃 · bì

to die;

to kill;

to perish;

to collapse;

to fall down;

to shoot down (an aircraft);

to defeat utterly.

to dieto killto perish

Usage highlights

execute by shootingdiecollapse and diekill with a single blowdie from illnessdie in prison

Synonyms

  • 死— to die (general term)
  • 亡— to perish, to die
  • 殁— to die (formal, literary)

Antonyms

  • 生— to live, to be born
  • 活— to live, alive

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The enemy was completely annihilated (敌人被全部毙命).
  • The criminal was executed by shooting (罪犯被枪毙).
  • The plan failed completely (计划彻底毙掉了).
  • The aircraft was shot down (飞机被击毙).

Collocations

  • execute by shooting(枪毙)
  • die(毙命)
  • collapse and die(倒毙)
  • kill with a single blow(一击毙命)
  • die from illness(病毙)
  • die in prison(瘐毙)

Idioms

  • To die like a dog(犬兔俱毙)
  • To sit and wait for death(坐以待毙)
  • To die without a proper burial(暴毙街头)
  • To perish together(同归于毙)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant 'to fall forward' or 'collapse', later extended to mean death, especially violent or sudden death.
  • Often used in legal and military contexts for execution or killing in battle.
  • Considered a strong, direct term for death, sometimes carrying negative connotations.
  • In modern usage, can be used informally to mean 'fail completely' or 'be rejected'.

FAQ