shān

芟

Character · Verb

cut grass; remove

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

verb

to cut grass; to mow; to weed

literary

Originally refers to cutting grass or weeds with a sickle. Often used in classical or literary contexts.

Nóng农
fū夫
shān芟
cǎo草
yú于
tián田
jiān间
 。

The farmer was weeding in the fields.

Shān芟
yí夷
zá杂
cǎo草
 ，
yǐ以
lì利
zhuāng庄
jia稼
shēng生
zhǎng长
 。

Clear away the weeds to help the crops grow.

2.

verb

to eliminate; to remove; to delete; to exterminate

formal

Extended meaning from cutting grass to removing or eliminating something abstract or concrete. Used in formal or literary contexts.

Shān芟
chú除
bì弊
zhèng政
 ，
yǐ以
ān安
bǎi百
xìng姓
 。

Eliminate corrupt policies to bring peace to the people.

Shān芟
xuē削
fán繁
wén文
 ，
bǎo保
liú留
jīng精
huá华
 。

Cut out the superfluous text and keep only the essence.

Show 1 more example
Zhè这
zhǒng种
hài害
chóng虫
bì必
xū须
chè彻
dǐ底
shān芟
miè灭
 。

These pests must be completely exterminated.