凋

diāo

冫 + 周

Definitions

diāo withered

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 冫 represents the meaning and 周 represents the sound.

Semantic: 冫 Phonetic: 周

About

凋 is a phonosemantic compound, fusing the ice radical 冫, which evokes cold, frost, and the chill of late autumn and winter, with the phonetic element 周. Its original reference was to plants shedding leaves and flowers as temperatures fall, a direct result of seasonal change. From this literal meaning, the character developed into a versatile metaphor for decline, aging, and loss of vitality. It now describes deterioration in contexts ranging from personal health and aging to the crumbling of societies and the exhaustion of artistic inspiration, ultimately turning a natural phenomenon into a universal symbol of decay.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

花园里的花儿凋谢了。

Huāyuán lǐ de huā er diāoxiè le.

The flowers in the garden have withered.

秋天树叶凋零。

Qiūtiān shùyè diāolíng.

In autumn, leaves wither and fall.

寒冷的冬天让花草凋谢。

Hánlěng de dōngtiān ràng huācǎo diāoxiè.

The cold winter causes flowers and grass to wither.

战争后经济凋敝。

Zhànzhēng hòu jīngjì diāobì.

After the war, the economy is desolate.

他的梦想随着时间凋零了。

Tā de mèngxiǎng suízhe shíjiān diāolíng le.

His dreams withered away with time.

由于缺乏照顾，这些植物逐渐凋谢。

Yóuyú quēfá zhàogù, zhèxiē zhíwù zhújiàn diāoxiè.

Due to lack of care, these plants gradually withered.

那个古老的文化正在慢慢凋零。

Nàge gǔlǎo de wénhuà zhèngzài mànman diāolíng.

That ancient culture is slowly fading away.

在严酷的环境下，不止是植物，连人的希望也会凋谢。

Zài yánkù de huánjìng xià, bùzhǐ shì zhíwù, lián rén de xīwàng yě huì diāoxiè.

In harsh environments, not only plants but even human hope can wither.

Related Characters

Component: 冫

Component: 周

凋