verb HSK 5
xiè
to unload · to remove · to take off · to dismantle

Meaning

means to unload, remove, or take something off. It commonly refers to unloading cargo from vehicles, removing parts from machinery, or taking off makeup or clothing. The character suggests the action of separating or dismantling something from where it was attached or loaded.

Usage

is most commonly used in compound words rather than alone. It appears frequently in contexts like 货 (unload cargo), 妆 (remove makeup), and 任 (leave office). The verb is formal to neutral in register and is used in both everyday and professional contexts.

Examples

  1. 01
    工人们正在码头货。
    Gōngrénmen zhèngzài mǎtóu xiè huò.
    The workers are unloading cargo at the dock.
  2. 02
    她每天睡觉前都要妆。
    měitiān shuìjiào qián dōu yào xiè zhuāng.
    She removes her makeup every day before going to bed.

Common collocations

  • xiè huò
    to unload goods
  • xiè zhuāng
    to remove makeup
  • xiè rèn
    to leave office, to step down
  • zhuāng xiè
    loading and unloading

Antonyms

Origin

The character combines components suggesting the separation or removal of a load. Historically it referred to removing armor or dismounting from a cart, which evolved into the general meaning of unloading or removing.

Related