famine year; year of bad harvest
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
famine year; year of crop failure or poor harvest
literaryA formal and somewhat literary term describing a severe agricultural disaster, often leading to widespread hardship and hunger. It contrasts with '丰年' (bumper year).
Jiù旧
shè社
huì会
lǐ里
，
lǎo老
bǎi百
xìng姓
zuì最
pà怕
yù遇
dào到
huāng荒
nián年
。
In the old society, common people were most afraid of encountering a famine year.
Zhè这
chǎng场
dà大
hàn旱
dǎo导
zhì致
le了
hǎo好
jǐ几
chù处
dì地
fāng方
de的
huāng荒
nián年
。
This severe drought led to famine years in several regions.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Yé爷
ye爷
shuō说
，
tā他
tóng童
nián年
shí时
jīng经
lì历
guo过
yī一
gè个
kě可
pà怕
de的
huāng荒
nián年
。
Grandpa said he experienced a terrible famine year during his childhood.
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
huāng荒
nián年
cháng常
cháng常
yǐn引
fā发
shè社
huì会
dòng动
dàng荡
hé和
rén人
kǒu口
qiān迁
yí移
。
In ancient times, famine years often triggered social unrest and population migration.