歼灭
jiān miè · HSK 7
to wipe out
🔥🚫 歼 annihilate + 灭 extinguish; 灭 = a lid clamped over 火 fire to snuff it out
Both characters mean destroy, so the compound stacks them for total wipe-out. 灭 shows a flat stroke pressing down on 火 (fire), the line acting as a cover that smothers the flame.
灭 — fire 火 under cover 一
Originally written 烕, showing fire 火 being smothered or extinguished. The modern simplified form 灭 visually depicts a horizontal stroke 一 pressing down on fire 火, capturing the idea of putting out flames. The meaning extended from 'extinguish' to 'destroy' or 'wipe out'.