Chinese word

致命

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhì mìng

Meaning

  • adjectivedeadly

Example

这种毒药很致命。zhè zhǒng dú yào hěn zhì mìng

This poison is deadly.

Illustration for 致命 (deadly)

More examples

新发现的病原体可能是致命疾病的起因。xīn fā xiàn de bìng yuán tǐ kě néng shì zhì mìng jí bìng de qǐ yīn

The newly discovered pathogen may cause a deadly disease.

Core concept

A force that carries an event toward its most destructive possible result, especially loss of life.

Common phrases

  • 致命疾病zhì mìng jí bìng

    deadly disease

  • 致命漏洞zhì mìng lòu dòng

    fatal flaw

  • 致命一击zhì mìng yì jī

    fatal blow

Similar words

致死zhì sǐ: Having a property or effect that leads to death when touched or taken in.
危险wēi xiǎn: In a state where harm may happen to people or things.

Definition in Chinese

能直接导致死亡或造成极为严重的后果的néng zhí jiē dǎo zhì sǐ wáng huò zào chéng jí wéi yán zhòng de hòu guǒ de

Word origin

The word 致命 (zhìmìng, "deadly") is formed from 致 (zhì, "bring about") and 命 (mìng, "life"), so its parts point to an effect that reaches life or causes grave damage.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may associate this adjective only with literal death, but Chinese also applies it to a flaw or error with a seriously damaging result.

Opposites

Related words

  • 致命性zhì mìng xìnglethalitynoun

Word lists with this word