撞击

• Pinyin: zhuàng jī
• Hanzi breakdown: 撞 = 扌 + 童 (bump); 击 = 凵 + 丨 (strike)

Meaning

To strike; to collide; to crash into. A forceful impact between objects.

Describes forceful physical collisions, from car accidents to asteroids hitting planets. Also used metaphorically for clashing ideas or conflicting forces. Emphasizes the force and impact of the collision.

Examples

1. 小行星撞击地球可能导致生物灭绝。 An asteroid impact on Earth could cause mass extinction.
2. 两辆汽车在十字路口发生撞击。 Two cars collided at the intersection.
3. 不同文化的撞击产生了新的艺术形式。 When different cultures collide, new art forms can emerge.

Usage Guide

Context: accidents, science, news

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 卫星与太空垃圾撞击的风险越来越高。(The risk of satellites colliding with space debris is increasing.)
• 撞击测试显示这款车的安全性能优异。(Crash tests show this car has excellent safety performance.)

Don't Say

• 思想撞击在一起 — while acceptable, 碰撞 is more common for abstract clashes

Origin & History

撞 (to bump, to collide) + 击 (to strike, to hit)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal