kǎnlǎn
𱂱颔
emaciated; gaunt; haggard from hunger
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadjective
emaciated; gaunt and sallow (from starvation)
literaryA classical literary term describing extreme physical deterioration due to hunger or hardship. It is rarely used in modern colloquial speech.
Lián连
nián年
zāi灾
huāng荒
，
bǎi百
xìng姓
miàn面
yǒu有
cài菜
sè色
，
xíng形
róng容
kǎn坎
lǎn壈
。
After consecutive years of famine, the common people looked pale and emaciated.
Gǔ古
dài代
shī诗
wén文
zhōng中
cháng常
yòng用
“
kǎn坎
lǎn壈
”
xíng形
róng容
liú流
mín民
zhī之
kǔ苦
。
The term 'kǎn lǎn' was often used in ancient poetry to describe the suffering of displaced people.
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Huà画
zhōng中
de的
nàn难
mín民
gè个
gè个
gǔ骨
shòu瘦
rú如
chái柴
，
shén神
sè色
kǎn坎
lǎn壈
。
The refugees in the painting were all skin and bones, with haggard expressions.