销毁

• Pinyin: xiāo huǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 销 = 钅+ 肖 (melt/disperse); 毁 = 臼 + 工 + 殳 (to strike and break apart)

Meaning

To destroy; to eliminate utterly by burning, shredding, or other means, leaving no trace.

Implies deliberate and complete destruction, often of sensitive or dangerous materials. Common in legal, military, and administrative contexts. Stronger than 毁坏 (to damage) — 销毁 leaves nothing recoverable.

Examples

1. 机密文件必须按照规定程序予以彻底销毁，不得随意丢弃。 Confidential documents must be completely destroyed according to the required procedures and must not be discarded casually.
2. 法院命令被告立即销毁所有侵权的盗版光盘。 The court ordered the defendant to immediately destroy all infringing pirated discs.
3. 化学武器公约要求各缔约国按期销毁境内所有存量化学武器。 The Chemical Weapons Convention requires each signatory state to destroy all stockpiled chemical weapons within its territory on schedule.

Usage Guide

Context: law, military, administration

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 根据保密规定，过期的涉密档案须经专人核查后统一销毁，不得外传。(In accordance with confidentiality regulations, expired classified files must be uniformly destroyed after verification by designated personnel — no leaks permitted.)
• 海关查获的走私货物已依法全部销毁，无一流入市场。(All smuggled goods seized by customs have been destroyed in accordance with the law — none reached the market.)

Don't Say

• 销毁感情 — use 伤害感情 or 破坏关系 for damaging relationships; 销毁 applies to physical objects or documents, not abstract bonds

Origin & History

销 (melt/dissolve/sell off) + 毁 (destroy/ruin) — to melt away and destroy completely

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adult professionals

Social background: Universal