灭迹

滅跡

mièjì

verb #23,193

Meanings

1 to destroy evidence
2 to cover one's tracks
3 to eliminate traces

Characters

to extinguish; to destroy; to eliminate

trace; track; mark; evidence

Examples

罪犯企图毁灭迹象，但警察还是找到了证据。

Zuìfàn qǐtú huǐ miè jīxiàng, dàn jǐngchá hái shì zhǎodào le zhèngjù.

The criminal tried to destroy evidence, but the police still found proof.

他们杀人灭迹，以为可以逃脱法律制裁。

Tāmen shārén mièjì, yǐwéi kěyǐ táotuō fǎlǜ zhìcái.

They killed to eliminate witnesses, thinking they could escape legal punishment.

Tips

usage

灭迹 often pairs with 杀人 in the fixed phrase 杀人灭迹 (shārén mièjì) — to kill in order to destroy evidence/silence witnesses. This is a commonly used four-character phrase in crime fiction and legal language.

Stroke Order

灭 miè

迹 jì