source of disaster; root of calamity
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
source of disaster; root of calamity; origin of misfortune
literaryLiterary or formal usage referring to the underlying cause that leads to disaster, conflict, or misfortune. Often used in historical or analytical contexts.
Zhè这
chǎng场
zhàn战
zhēng争
de的
huò祸
duān端
shì是
lǐng领
tǔ土
zhēng争
duān端
。
The root of this war was territorial disputes.
Tān贪
lán婪
shì是
yī一
qiè切
huò祸
duān端
de的
gēn根
yuán源
。
Greed is the source of all calamity.
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Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
，
zhè这
chǎng场
huò祸
duān端
wǎng往
wǎng往
bèi被
guī归
jiù咎
yú于
huàn宦
guān官
zhuān专
quán权
。
Historically, the root of this disaster is often blamed on the autocracy of eunuchs.