Chinese–EnglishWith examples

消磨

xiāo mó · xiao mo

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to wear down
  2. to sap
  3. to whittle away
  4. to while away
  5. to idle away
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In a conversation

0:21 cartoon

Slowly wearing down time

  1. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)在(zài)这儿(zhèr)坐(zuò)了(le)一个(yīgè)下午(xiàwǔ)，在(zài)干什么(gànshénme)？

    You have sat here all afternoon. What are you doing?

  2. Liangliang

    看(kàn)老人(lǎorén)下棋(xiàqí)，消磨(xiāomó)时间(shíjiān)。

    Watching old men play chess, to pass the time.

  3. Dengdeng

    消磨(xiāomó)时间(shíjiān)的(de)办法(bànfǎ)很多(hěnduō)，为什么(wèishénme)看(kàn)下棋(xiàqí)？

    There are many ways to pass the time. Why watch chess?

  4. Liangliang

    他们(tāmen)一步(yībù)棋(qí)想(xiǎng)了(le)半个(bànge)小时(xiǎoshí)，我的(wǒde)时间(shíjiān)消磨(xiāomó)得(de)更(gèng)慢(màn)。

    They think half an hour for one move, so my time passes even slower.

  5. Dengdeng

    那(nà)你的(nǐde)时间(shíjiān)不是(bùshì)被(bèi)消磨(xiāomó)，是(shì)被(bèi)浪费(làngfèi)。

    Then your time is not being passed, it is being wasted.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

有(yǒu)些(xiē)人(rén)为(wèi)了(le)消(xiāo)磨(mó)时(shí)间(jiān)而(ér)读(dú)书(shū)。

Some people read books to kill time.

Tatoeba: Chinese by DaoSeng · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

两(liǎng)个(gè)老(lǎo)人(rén)打(dǎ)牌(pái)消(xiāo)磨(mó)着(zhe)时(shí)间(jiān)。

The two old men while away the time playing cards.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by darinmex · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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