墟

xū
土 + 虚

Definitions

xū ruins; (literary) village; variant of 圩[xū]; country fair

Etymology phono-semantic

earth

Semantic: 土 Phonetic: 虚

About

墟 (xū) is a phono-semantic compound consisting of the radical 土 (earth) on the left, which relates it to land, ground, or a physical location, and the phonetic component 虚 (xū) on the right, giving the pronunciation and evoking a sense of emptiness or abandonment. Originally, the term described a dilapidated, abandoned site: the ruins of a former settlement or a desolate wasteland that had once been inhabited. Over time, in certain regional dialects, the meaning shifted to a rural market or a temporary gathering place for trade, transforming the notion of an empty plot of land into one temporarily used for commerce.

Example Sentences Hide

这片废墟很古老。

Zhè piàn fèixū hěn gǔlǎo.

This ruin is very ancient.

战争留下了许多废墟。

Zhànzhēng liúxiàle xǔduō fèixū.

The war left many ruins.

我们在废墟中找到了宝藏。

Wǒmen zài fèixū zhōng zhǎodàole bǎozàng.

We found treasure in the ruins.

小镇的墟市很热闹。

Xiǎo zhèn de xūshì hěn rènào.

The small town's market is very lively.

每个周末都有墟市。

Měi gè zhōumò dōu yǒu xūshì.

There is a market every weekend.

探险队深入废墟寻找秘密。

Tànxiǎn duì shēnrù fèixū xúnzhǎo mìmì.

The expedition team went deep into the ruins to search for secrets.

他的梦想已成一片废墟。

Tā de mèngxiǎng yǐ chéng yī piàn fèixū.

His dreams have become a ruin.

尽管墟场已废弃多年，但人们仍记得它的繁华。

Jǐnguǎn xūchǎng yǐ fèiqì duōnián, dàn rénmen réng jìde tā de fánhuá.

Although the market has been abandoned for many years, people still remember its prosperity.

Related Characters

Component: 土

在 地 去 主 走 场 至 社 基 王 城 增 型 境

Component: 虚

嘘 觑 虡 魖 戯 歔 覷

Example Words

废墟 殷墟