墟

xū
土 + 虚

Definitions

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

Etymology phono-semantic

earth

Semantic: 土 Phonetic: 虚

About

The character 墟 (xū) is a phono-semantic compound. Its left-side radical 土 (earth) connects it to land or physical locations, while the right-side component 虚 (xū) provides the pronunciation and suggests emptiness. Originally, the term described a dilapidated or abandoned place, such as the ruins of a former settlement. In some regional dialects, the meaning later expanded to refer to a rural market, a temporary gathering place for trade, shifting the focus from desolation to an empty plot repurposed 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