消失 (xiāoshī)

消失 means to disappear or vanish, referring to something that ceases to be visible or no longer exists.

Meanings

[verb] to disappear; to vanish; to cease to exist or be seen

Example Sentences

他的身影慢慢消失在人群中。 Tā de shēnyǐng mànmàn xiāoshī zài rénqún zhōng. His figure slowly disappeared into the crowd.

这种珍稀动物正在慢慢消失。 Zhè zhǒng zhēnxī dòngwù zhèngzài mànmàn xiāoshī. This rare animal is gradually disappearing.

疼痛感在吃了药之后消失了。 Téngtòng gǎn zài chī le yào zhīhòu xiāoshī le. The pain disappeared after taking the medicine.

很多传统文化在现代社会中消失了。 Hěn duō chuántǒng wénhuà zài xiàndài shèhuì zhōng xiāoshī le. Many traditional cultures have disappeared in modern society.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
慢慢消失	to gradually disappear
完全消失	to completely vanish
消失不见	to disappear from sight
从视野中消失	to disappear from view

Usage Notes

消失 is intransitive and cannot take a direct object. It describes a natural or gradual process of disappearing. It differs from 消除 (to eliminate, to remove), which is transitive and implies actively getting rid of something.

Memory Hook

消 means "to fade/diminish" and 失 means "to lose": 消失 is fading until lost, gradually vanishing from existence.