to afflict; to ravage; to poison
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to afflict; to ravage; to torment (figurative: to poison and destroy)
literaryOriginally referring to bitter herbs (荼) and poisonous creatures (毒), used figuratively to describe severe harm or devastation. Often used in the set phrase 荼毒生灵 (to ravage the people).
Tú荼
dú毒
shēng生
líng灵
To ravage and destroy the lives of the people.
Jūn军
fá阀
hùn混
zhàn战
，
tú荼
dú毒
bǎi百
xìng姓
。
The warlords fought among themselves, bringing devastation upon the common people.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
fǔ腐
bài败
xiàn现
xiàng象
tú荼
dú毒
zhe着
nián年
qīng轻
rén人
de的
xīn心
líng灵
。
This kind of corruption is poisoning the minds of young people.