灭顶之灾

滅頂之災

mièdǐngzhīzāi

idiom #29,822

Meanings

1 catastrophic disaster
2 devastating calamity
3 total ruin (lit. a disaster that covers even the top of one's head)

Characters

to extinguish; to destroy; to drown

top; apex; crown of the head

of (classical possessive particle)

disaster; calamity

Examples

这场洪水对村庄来说是灭顶之灾。

Zhè chǎng hóngshuǐ duì cūnzhuāng lái shuō shì mièdǐng zhī zāi.

This flood was a devastating catastrophe for the village.

丑闻对公司而言是灭顶之灾。

Chǒuwén duì gōngsī ér yán shì mièdǐng zhī zāi.

The scandal was a complete disaster for the company.

Tips

memory

灭顶 literally means 「to submerge even the top of the head」 — imagine being completely overwhelmed by floodwater. 之灾 adds 「disaster.」 The image of drowning makes this idiom vivid and memorable.

Stroke Order

灭 miè

顶 dǐng

之 zhī

灾 zāi