shānyí

芟荑

Word · Verb

variant of 芟夷; mow down; cut down; exterminate

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

verb

to mow down; to cut down (grass, weeds, or trees)

literary

Literary term referring to the physical act of clearing vegetation. Variant form of 芟夷.

Nóng农
fū夫
shān芟
yí荑
tián田
jiān间
zá杂
cǎo草
 ，
yǐ以
lì利
hé禾
miáo苗
shēng生
zhǎng长
 。

The farmer mowed down the weeds in the field to help the crops grow.

Shān芟
yí荑
jīng荆
jí棘
 ，
kāi开
pì辟
dào道
lù路
 。

They cut down the brambles to open up a path.

2.

verb

to exterminate; to wipe out; to eliminate (enemies or opposing forces)

archaic

Figurative extension of the literal meaning, used in military or political contexts to describe the destruction of enemies. Often found in classical historical texts.

Jiāng将
jūn军
shuài率
jūn军
shān芟
yí荑
cán残
dí敌
 ，
píng平
dìng定
pàn叛
luàn乱
 。

The general led the army to wipe out the remaining enemies and quell the rebellion.

Shān芟
yí荑
huò祸
luàn乱
 ，
huī恢
fù复
tài太
píng平
 。

They exterminated the scourge and restored peace.