In 15 Seconds
- The standard verb for deleting digital files or text.
- Used for photos, emails, and social media contacts.
- Avoid using it for physical objects like trash.
Meaning
This word is your digital eraser. It is the action of removing text, files, or even people from your social media life.
Key Examples
3 of 6Cleaning up your phone
我的手机内存满了，我要删除一些照片。
My phone memory is full; I need to delete some photos.
Editing a document with a boss
这一段不重要，可以删除吗？
This paragraph isn't important; can we delete it?
After a bad breakup
我把他从我的好友列表里删除了。
I deleted him from my friends list.
Cultural Background
In the era of WeChat, 'shānchú' has become a powerful social signal. 'Deleting' someone is the modern way of cutting ties completely. It is often discussed in the context of 'digital minimalism' among young Chinese urbanites.
The Short Version
In casual speech, people often just say `删` (shān) instead of the full `删除`. For example: `把它删了` (Delete it).
Don't 'Delete' Your Room
Remember, this is for data. If you say you want to `删除` your room, people will think you want to magically erase it from existence, not clean it!
In 15 Seconds
- The standard verb for deleting digital files or text.
- Used for photos, emails, and social media contacts.
- Avoid using it for physical objects like trash.
What It Means
删除 is the standard way to say 'delete' in the digital age. It combines two characters that both mean to get rid of something. Think of it as the 'Delete' key on your keyboard. It is clean, final, and very common.
How To Use It
You use it just like in English. You 删除 a photo that makes you look tired. You 删除 a long email that you decided not to send. It usually follows the object. For example, 'delete this' is 删除这个. It is a very active verb. You are the one making the choice to clear space.
When To Use It
Use it whenever you are touching a screen or a mouse. It is perfect for technical issues. Use it when talking about storage space on your phone. It also works for text. If you wrote a typo, you 删除 the wrong character. In a professional setting, you might 删除 a slide from a presentation. It is the go-to word for anything digital.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use 删除 for physical objects. You don't 删除 the trash in your kitchen. For that, use 扔 (to throw away). Also, don't use it for people in real life. You wouldn't say you 'deleted' a friend from a party. That sounds like a sci-fi movie plot! Stick to data and text.
Cultural Background
In China, social media is everything. The phrase 被删了 (was deleted) is a common complaint. It usually refers to a post being removed by a platform. There is also the 'unfriend' culture. If you 删除好友 (delete a friend), it is a serious digital breakup. It is the ultimate way to end a connection in the WeChat era.
Common Variations
You will often see 一键删除. This means 'one-click delete.' It is the dream of every person with a full inbox. Another one is 彻底删除. This means 'permanently delete.' There is no going back from that one. It is gone from the trash bin forever!
Usage Notes
Very versatile and safe to use in both professional and casual digital contexts. Just keep it away from physical objects like trash or dirty dishes.
The Short Version
In casual speech, people often just say `删` (shān) instead of the full `删除`. For example: `把它删了` (Delete it).
Don't 'Delete' Your Room
Remember, this is for data. If you say you want to `删除` your room, people will think you want to magically erase it from existence, not clean it!
The 'Red Exclamation Mark'
In China, if you try to message someone and see a red exclamation mark, it means they have `删除`d you. It's a famous (and sad) internet moment.
Examples
6我的手机内存满了，我要删除一些照片。
My phone memory is full; I need to delete some photos.
Standard usage for digital storage.
这一段不重要，可以删除吗？
This paragraph isn't important; can we delete it?
Polite way to suggest edits in a professional setting.
我把他从我的好友列表里删除了。
I deleted him from my friends list.
A common way to describe 'unfriending' someone.
天哪！我不小心删除了我的作业！
Oh my god! I accidentally deleted my homework!
Expressing panic over a digital mistake.
确认要删除这个文件吗？
Are you sure you want to delete this file?
The exact phrase you see on Chinese software pop-ups.
刚才发错了，快帮我删除那条信息。
I sent the wrong thing just now; help me delete that message.
Asking someone to remove a message in a chat.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about cleaning a computer.
这个文件没用，请把它___了。
`删除` (shānchú) is the correct term for removing a digital file.
You want to tell a friend to remove a bad photo of you.
这张照片太丑了，快___！
When you want a photo gone from a device, you use `删除`.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of '删除'
Deleting a bad selfie or a text typo.
删了吧 (Delete it).
Standard computer operations.
删除文件 (Delete file).
Official data removal or legal contexts.
删除相关条款 (Delete relevant clauses).
Where to use '删除'
Smartphone
Delete apps
Social Media
Unfriend someone
Office Work
Edit a report
Clear spam
Practice Bank
2 exercises这个文件没用，请把它___了。
`删除` (shānchú) is the correct term for removing a digital file.
这张照片太丑了，快___！
When you want a photo gone from a device, you use `删除`.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, for cancelling an event or meeting, use 取消 (qǔxiāo). 删除 is specifically for removing content or data.
Not usually. If you are crossing something out on paper, you'd use 划掉 (huàdiào). 删除 is almost exclusively digital.
You say 删除好友 (shānchú hǎoyǒu). It literally means 'delete good friend,' but it just means removing them from your contacts.
删除 is the full verb, while 删 is the short form. Use 删除 in menus and formal writing, and 删 when chatting with friends.
It is a neutral word. However, telling someone 把你删了 (I'm deleting you) is a very aggressive way to end a friendship.
No, for that use 擦 (cā), which means to wipe or erase physically.
It is called 删除键 (shānchú jiàn).
You can say 误删 (wù shān), which is a short way of saying 'mistakenly deleted' in Chinese.
People sometimes use 拉黑 (lāhēi), which means 'to blacklist.' This is more extreme than just deleting.
Yes, if it's a written list or a digital database, 删除 is perfectly fine.
Related Phrases
取消 (qǔxiāo) - To cancel
卸载 (xièzài) - To uninstall (an app)
清空 (qīngkōng) - To empty (like a trash bin)
修改 (xiūgǎi) - To modify or edit
撤回 (chèhuí) - To withdraw/recall a message
