空室清野 kōng shì qīng yě

DEFINITIONS

  1. empty room, clean field (idiom); clean out everything to leave nothing for the enemy
  2. scorched earth policy

CHARACTERS

空 kōng
HSK 3
empty, hollow, bare, deserted
室 shì
HSK 2
room, home, house, chamber
清 qīng
HSK 3
clear, pure, clean; peaceful
野 yě
HSK 6
open country, field; wilderness