磨灭

磨滅

mómiè

verb #30,265

Meanings

1 to obliterate
2 to wear away
3 to erase (a memory, a mark, an achievement)

Characters

to grind; to wear

to extinguish; to wipe out

Examples

时间无法磨灭这段回忆。

Shíjiān wúfǎ mómiè zhè duàn huíyì.

Time cannot erase this memory.

他的功绩不可磨灭。

Tā de gōngjì bùkě-mómiè.

His achievements cannot be obliterated.

Tips

usage

Most often appears in the negation 不可磨灭 ('cannot be erased; indelible') describing memories, contributions, or marks left on history. Literal 'grind out' makes the imagery vivid: even sandpaper-like time can't grind these away.

Stroke Order

磨 mó

灭 miè