mǐn

泯

Character · Verb

destroy; extinguish; lose

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

verb

to destroy; to extinguish; to eliminate; to obliterate

literary

Used in formal or literary contexts to describe the complete destruction or erasure of abstract things such as differences, memories, or humanity. Often appears in set phrases.

Shí时
jiān间
de的
liú流
shì逝
mǐn泯
miè灭
le了
nà那
duàn段
tòng痛
kǔ苦
de的
jì记
yì忆
 。

The passage of time obliterated that painful memory.

Zhè这
chǎng场
zhàn战
zhēng争
jī几
hū乎
mǐn泯
miè灭
le了
rén人
xìng性
 。

This war nearly extinguished human compassion.

Show 1 more example
Gǔ古
jīn今
chā差
yì异
zài在
cǐ此
mǐn泯
mò没
 。

The differences between ancient and modern times vanish here.

2.

verb

to lose; to perish; to forfeit

literary

Typically used in the negative construction 良心未泯 (conscience not yet lost) to indicate that someone still retains their moral compass despite adverse circumstances.

Tā他
suī虽
rán然
shēn身
chù处
gāo高
wèi位
 ，
dàn但
liáng良
xīn心
wèi未
mǐn泯
 。

Although he holds a high position, his conscience is not yet lost.

Zài在
nà那
zhǒng种
huán环
jìng境
xià下
 ，
hěn很
shǎo少
yǒu有
rén人
néng能
zuò做
dào到
liáng良
xīn心
wèi未
mǐn泯
 。

In that kind of environment, very few people can manage to keep their conscience intact.