About
The character "荒" is structurally composed of the grass radical atop, signaling vegetation, and the component "巟" below, which historically functioned as a phonetic marker while simultaneously implying a expansive void, collectively conveying the idea of land left wild or overgrown. Its earliest meanings centered on concrete desolation, such as barren fields or neglected cultivation, which naturally extended to associated conditions like famine and scarcity arising from such abandonment. Subsequently, the semantic scope of "荒" widened to encompass more abstract notions, including neglect or wastefulness in non-agricultural contexts, and further evolved to denote irrationality or excess, as observed in compounds referring to absurdity or indulgence. This progression from physical to metaphorical applications occurred without alteration to its graphical form, which has persisted unchanged through periods of linguistic standardization.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这片土地很荒凉。
他荒废了很多时间。
我们在荒地上种树。
花园里长满了荒草。
这个故事太荒诞了。
荒原上吹着猛烈的风。
如果继续荒废学业，你会后悔的。
由于长期荒废，这片农田已经无法耕种。