落

là, lào, luò

洛 + 艹

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

luò (verb) to fall; to drop

luò (verb) (of sun) to set

luò (verb) to decline; to sink

luò (verb) to lag behind

luò (verb) to write down

là (verb) to leave out; to leave behind; to forget to bring

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 洛 represents the sound.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 洛

About

落 is a phono-semantic compound: 艹 (grass, plants) on top indicates the meaning, and 洛 (luò) below gives the sound. 洛 is itself composed of the water radical 氵 and 各 (each). The original meaning referred to leaves, flowers, and fruit falling from plants in autumn. Over time it came to denote any downward movement, falling objects, decline, or a settlement location.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

太阳落山了。

Tàiyáng luò shān le.

The sun has set.

树叶从树上落下来。

Shùyè cóng shù shàng luò xià lái.

Leaves fall from the tree.

他的眼泪落下了。

Tā de yǎnlèi luò xià le.

His tears fell.

飞机安全降落了。

Fēijī ānquán jiàngluò le.

The airplane landed safely.

他考试落后了。

Tā kǎoshì luòhòu le.

He fell behind in the exam.

新大楼终于落成了。

Xīn dàlóu zhōngyú luòchéng le.

The new building is finally completed.

请各位嘉宾落座。

Qǐng gèwèi jiābīn luòzuò.

Please take your seats, honored guests.

他在画上落了款。

Tā zài huà shàng luò le kuǎn.

He inscribed his name on the painting.

Related Characters

Component: 洛

落