殺 (shā) - kill, murder, slaughter & to reduce, weaken, eliminate

殺Tone 1

shā ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

三姗

殺 · shā

kill, murder, slaughter;

to reduce, weaken, eliminate;

in games, to defeat or eliminate pieces/characters

kill, murder, slaughterto reduce, weaken, eliminatein games, to defeat or eliminate pieces/characters

Usage highlights

kill peoplemurder casemassacrekill insectsreduce pricekill time

Synonyms

  • 宰— slaughter, butcher
  • 屠— massacre, slaughter
  • 灭— destroy, exterminate

Antonyms

  • 生— life, birth
  • 救— save, rescue
  • 活— live, alive

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The soldier killed the enemy (杀死敌人).
  • We need to eliminate these pests (杀害虫).
  • He was murdered last night (被杀害).
  • This move will kill his king in chess (将杀).
  • The pesticide kills insects effectively (杀虫剂).

Collocations

  • kill people(杀人)
  • murder case(杀人案)
  • massacre(大屠杀)
  • kill insects(杀虫)
  • reduce price(杀价)
  • kill time(杀时间)

Idioms

  • Kill a chicken to scare the monkeys(杀鸡儆猴)
  • Kill two birds with one stone(一石二鸟)
  • Kill someone to set an example(杀一儆百)
  • Engage in a life-and-death struggle(杀个你死我活)
  • Kill without blinking(杀人不眨眼)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, killing was considered a serious matter with moral and karmic consequences.
  • The character appears in many military and legal contexts throughout Chinese history.
  • In modern usage, it has extended meanings in business (bargaining) and gaming contexts.
  • The character carries strong negative connotations and is generally avoided in names.

FAQ