打击 literally combines 打 (to hit, strike) and 击 (to strike, attack), forming a compound verb meaning 'to strike down' or 'to undermine'—often used metaphorically to describe actions that weaken, damage, or suppress something intangible, like confidence, morale, or an illegal activity. It carries a formal or serious tone and frequently appears in official, medical, legal, or social contexts.

The word is commonly used in public health campaigns (e.g.,打击 smoking or drug use), law enforcement (e.g.,打击 crime), or psychological contexts (e.g.,打击 one’s self-esteem). Unlike the physical verb 打 alone, 打击 emphasizes impact and consequence rather than mere contact—it implies a decisive, often institutional, effort to eliminate or neutralize a harmful force or behavior.