杜绝: meaning, pinyin, and usage

Title: Understanding "杜绝" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 杜绝
• Pinyin: dùjué
• Literal Meaning: "to block" + "to cut off"
• Primary Meaning: to put an end to; to completely eliminate; to eradicate; to prohibit (something bad) from happening

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage:
  "杜绝" is a formal and strong word used to describe the act of completely stopping or eliminating something undesirable, such as bad behavior, waste, corruption, cheating, accidents, or harmful phenomena. It emphasizes a firm, thorough, and intentional action to make sure that something does not happen again or does not happen at all.

This word is commonly used in official documents, news reports, school or workplace rules, public slogans, and serious speeches. It is not usually used for physical objects or people; instead, it is used with abstract problems or negative phenomena.

Common collocations include:
- 杜绝浪费 — to put an end to waste
- 杜绝作弊 — to eliminate cheating
- 杜绝腐败 — to eradicate corruption
- 杜绝事故 — to prevent accidents completely
- 杜绝漏洞 — to close loopholes completely

• Character Breakdown:
• 杜 (dù): In this word, it means "to shut out," "to block," or "to stop." It can also be a Chinese surname, but here it carries the sense of preventing something from passing through.
• 绝 (jué): This character means "to cut off," "to sever," or "to extinguish." It adds the sense of complete termination.

Together, 杜绝 literally creates an image of blocking something and cutting it off entirely, which is why the word means "to completely eliminate" or "to put a stop to."

3. Example Sentences

• Chinese: 我们必须杜绝浪费。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū dùjué làngfèi.

• English: We must put an end to waste.

• Chinese: 学校采取了很多措施来杜绝作弊现象。

• Pinyin: Xuéxiào cǎiqǔle hěnduō cuòshī lái dùjué zuòbì xiànxiàng.

• English: The school has taken many measures to eliminate cheating.

• Chinese: 只有加强监督，才能杜绝腐败。

• Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu jiāqiáng jiāndū, cái néng dùjué fǔbài.
• English: Only by strengthening oversight can corruption be eradicated.

Cultural Notes

In Chinese public life, "杜绝" often appears in official slogans and campaigns. For example, "杜绝浪费" is a common phrase seen in canteens, restaurants, and government campaigns encouraging people not to waste food. The word has a serious, authoritative tone, so it is more likely to appear in written notices, policies, or formal speeches than in casual everyday conversation. When Chinese speakers want to express a strong commitment to stopping a bad phenomenon, "杜绝" is a natural and powerful choice.

Conclusion

To remember "杜绝," think of "blocking" and "cutting off" a bad thing completely. It is a formal, strong verb used to say "put an end to" or "completely eliminate" negative behaviors or problems, such as waste, cheating, or corruption. Use it when you want to express firm, thorough prevention or elimination.