barren land; wasteland
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
barren land; wasteland; infertile ground
literaryOriginally referred to land where no vegetation grew; now used both literally for deserts and figuratively for unproductive areas. Slightly literary register.
Zhè这
piàn片
bù不
máo毛
zhī之
dì地
jīng经
guò过
duō多
nián年
de的
zhì治
lǐ理
，
yǐ已
jīng经
biàn变
chéng成
le了
lǜ绿
zhōu洲
。
After years of management, this barren land has been transformed into an oasis.
Zhè这
lǐ里
cùn寸
cǎo草
bù不
shēng生
，
zhēn真
shì是
gè个
bù不
máo毛
zhī之
dì地
。
Not a single blade of grass grows here; it is truly a wasteland.
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Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
bèi被
liú流
fàng放
biān边
jiāng疆
yì意
wèi味
zhe着
yào要
qù去
bù不
máo毛
zhī之
dì地
shòu受
kǔ苦
。
In ancient times, being exiled to the frontier meant suffering in barren wastelands.