Definitions
(verb)
to collapse; to cave in
(verb)
to droop; to sag
(verb)
to settle down
Etymology phono-semantic
earth
Semantic:
土
About
Comprising the earth radical "土" and the phonetic component "𦐇", the character "塌" etymologically suggests a downward pressure applied to soil, leading to its fundamental sense of collapse or sinking, with the structural choice of "土" anchoring the meaning in the physical realm while the phonetic element, associated with sounds denoting flattening, contributes to the concept of a loss of structural integrity. Initially describing the failure of buildings or land, the meaning of "塌" gradually extended to encompass abstract declines, such as the dissipation of spirits or the settling of emotions, thereby maintaining a conceptual throughline from physical to metaphorical descent which demonstrates how the character's compositional logic continues to inform its application across various contexts.
Example Sentences Hide
那堵墙塌了。
地震后房屋倒塌了。
山坡塌方阻断了道路。
矿井塌陷造成多人伤亡。
他的计划彻底塌台了。
持续大雨导致河岸塌陷。
经济泡沫破裂后市场塌缩。
由于施工不当，那座新建的大楼突然塌陷，造成了严重损失。