HSK · Level 91
45 words
Chinese word
暗杀
Pronunciation
Pinyinàn shā
Meaning
- verbassassinate
Example
有人想要暗杀他。yǒu rén xiǎng yào àn shā tā
Someone wants to assassinate him.
More examples
警方发现有人正在策划暗杀这位政治家。jǐng fāng fā xiàn yǒu rén zhèng zài cè huà àn shā zhè wèi zhèng zhì jiā
Police discovered someone planning to assassinate this politician.
Core concept
A hidden, deliberate killing directed at a chosen person, often to change a larger situation.
Common phrases
实施暗杀shí shī àn shā
carry out an assassination
企图暗杀qǐ tú àn shā
attempt to assassinate
谋划暗杀móu huà àn shā
plot to assassinate
Similar words
谋杀móu shā: Killing someone as the result of a plan or motive.
杀害shā hài: Killing a person and causing their death, without stating a particular method or purpose.
刺杀cì shā: Suddenly stabbing and killing someone with a short knife or similar blade.
行刺xíng cì: Attacking a chosen person with the aim of killing them.
Definition in Chinese
秘密地杀害他人，通常指为实现某种目的而有预谋地消除特定人物，多用于政治或重大案件。mì mì dì shā hài tā rén tōng cháng zhǐ wèi shí xiàn móu zhǒng mù dì ér yǒu yù móu dì xiāo chú tè dìng rén wù duō yòng yú zhèng zhì huò zhòng dà àn jiàn
Word origin
暗 (àn, "hidden") + 杀 (shā, "kill") gives 暗杀 (ànshā, "assassinate") a transparent structure: a killing done in secret.
Usage tips
- In Chinese reporting, the surrounding verb is important: 企图 (qǐtú, "attempt") presents an intended assassination, whereas 遭到 (zāodào, "suffer") presents the named person as the one targeted.
Related words
- 暗杀者àn shā zhěassassinnoun
- 暗杀案àn shā ànassassination casenoun
- 暗杀未遂àn shā wèi suìattempted assassinationnoun