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Chinese/Dictionary entry

灭顶之灾

miè dǐng zhī zāidictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
(idiom) catastrophic disaster / devastating calamity
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-fd02125e842b5117. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

滅頂之災 灭顶之灾 [mie4 ding3 zhi1 zai1] /(idiom) catastrophic disaster; devastating calamity/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 滅頂之災

  • 灭
    miè

    to extinguish or put out / to go out (of a fire etc) / to exterminate or wipe out / to drown

  • 顶
    dǐng

    apex / crown of the head / top / roof / most / to carry on the head / to push to the top / to go against / to replace / to substitute / to be subjected to (an aerial bombing, hailstorm etc) / (slang) to "bump" a forum thread to raise its profile / classifier for headwear, hats, veils etc

  • 之
    zhī

    (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de]) / him / her / it

  • 灾
    zāi

    disaster / calamity

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.