诛 (zhū) - to execute & to put to death

诛Tone 1

zhū ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 讠

志

诛 · zhū

to execute;

to put to death;

to punish;

to condemn;

to eliminate

to executeto put to deathto punish

Usage highlights

to executeto punishto eliminate the entire clanverbal condemnationto punish without mercycrime that cannot be forgiven

Synonyms

  • 杀— to kill
  • 戮— to slaughter
  • 斩— to behead

Antonyms

  • 赦— to pardon
  • 免— to exempt
  • 奖— to reward

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The tyrant was executed (诛杀).
  • They sought to punish the traitor (诛叛).
  • The emperor ordered the elimination of the rebel clan (诛九族).
  • This crime deserves capital punishment (罪不容诛).

Collocations

  • to execute(诛杀)
  • to punish(诛罚)
  • to eliminate the entire clan(诛九族)
  • verbal condemnation(口诛笔伐)
  • to punish without mercy(诛戮)
  • crime that cannot be forgiven(罪不容诛)

Idioms

  • Crimes that cannot be forgiven(罪不容诛)
  • Condemn with words and punish with writing(口诛笔伐)
  • Execute one to warn a hundred(诛一警百)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese law, 诛 referred to capital punishment, often execution.
  • The phrase 诛九族 meant exterminating nine degrees of kinship, the most severe punishment in imperial China.
  • Used in historical contexts for eliminating political enemies or traitors.

FAQ