摧 meaning and stroke order
To destroy, to wreck
How to write 摧, stroke by stroke
14 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 摧
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to break
- to destroy
- to devastate
- to ravage
- to repress
How 摧 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 崔 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 摧
The hand radical 扌 shows an action done by hand, and 崔 (cuī) gives the sound. Picture a hand pushing over something tall and mighty until it breaks.
摧 rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It appears in words like 摧毁 (cuīhuǐ, to destroy) and 摧残 (cuīcán, to ravage), often in news or formal writing. Example: 地震摧毁了很多房子。(Dìzhèn cuīhuǐ le hěn duō fángzi.) The earthquake destroyed many houses.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 摧 with 催 (cuī, to urge), which has the person radical 亻 instead of the hand 扌. Both are read cuī, so check the left side: a hand destroys, a person hurries you.
Common words with 摧
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 摧毁 | cuīhuǐ | to destroy; to wreck | HSK 7-9 |
| 摧残 | cuīcán | to ravage; to ruin | |
| 坚不可摧 | jiānbùkěcuī | (idiom) invulnerable; indestructible; impregnable |
摧 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 摧
How many strokes are in 摧?
摧 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 摧 mean?
摧 (cuī) means to destroy, to wreck. A common word with it is 摧毁 (cuīhuǐ), meaning "to destroy; to wreck".
How do you pronounce 摧?
摧 is pronounced cuī, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 摧?
The radical of 摧 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 摧 under this radical.
Is 摧 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 摧 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 摧毁 and 摧残?
摧毁 (cuīhuǐ) means to destroy something completely, like buildings or enemy forces. 摧残 (cuīcán) means to damage or ruin over time, and it is often used for health, people, or young lives.
What does 坚不可摧 mean and when is it used?
坚不可摧 (jiānbùkěcuī) means so strong it cannot be destroyed. It describes fortresses, defenses, or figuratively a friendship or will that nothing can break.