化为灰烬

化為灰燼

huàwéi-huījìn

idiom #23,442

Meanings

1 to be reduced to ashes
2 to burn to nothing
3 to be utterly destroyed

Characters

to transform; to change into

to become; to be

cinders; remnants after burning

Examples

那栋老楼在大火中化为灰烬。

Nà dòng lǎo lóu zài dàhuǒ zhōng huàwéihuījìn.

That old building was reduced to ashes in the great fire.

他的梦想在一夜之间化为灰烬。

Tā de mèngxiǎng zài yī yè zhījiān huàwéihuījìn.

His dreams turned to ashes overnight.

Tips

usage

Often used figuratively to mean something is utterly lost or destroyed, not just physically burned. Compare with 付之一炬 (to commit to the flames), which is more literary and implies deliberate burning.

Stroke Order

化 huà

为 wéi

灰 huī

烬 jìn