wither and fall; decline
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
(of plants) to wither and fall; to decay
literaryLiterally describes plants losing leaves or flowers; often used in a poetic or descriptive context.
Qiū秋
fēng风
xiāo萧
sè瑟
，
cǎo草
mù木
diāo凋
líng零
。
The autumn wind is bleak, and the plants have withered.
Yuán园
zhōng中
de的
méi玫
guī瑰
zài在
hán寒
dōng冬
zhōng中
diāo凋
líng零
le了
。
The roses in the garden withered during the cold winter.
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Xī昔
rì日
fán繁
huá华
de的
tíng庭
yuàn院
，
rú如
jīn今
zhǐ只
shèng剩
yī一
piàn片
diāo凋
líng零
。
The once bustling courtyard is now left in desolation and decay.
verb
(of a family, business, etc.) to decline; to fall into ruin
literaryMetaphorically used to describe the decline of non-physical things like fortunes, industries, or traditions.
Zhàn战
luàn乱
zhī之
hòu后
，
jiā家
dào道
diāo凋
líng零
。
After the war, the family fortunes declined.
Nà那
ge个
gǔ古
lǎo老
de的
háng行
yè业
zhèng正
zài在
zhú逐
jiàn渐
diāo凋
líng零
。
That ancient industry is gradually declining.
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Suí随
zhe着
lǎo老
yī一
bèi辈
rén人
de的
lí离
qù去
，
xǔ许
duō多
chuán传
tǒng统
jì技
yì艺
miàn面
lín临
diāo凋
líng零
。
With the passing of the older generation, many traditional crafts are facing decline.