wither and decay; decline
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesverb
to wither and decay; to droop and fall (of plants)
Usually refers to plants, flowers, or grass losing vitality, drooping, and dying. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts.
Qiū秋
fēng风
chuī吹
guò过
，
cǎo草
mù木
jiàn渐
jiàn渐
wěi萎
luò落
。
As the autumn wind blew, the grass and trees gradually withered.
Yóu由
yú于
quē缺
fá乏
shuǐ水
fèn分
，
zhè这
xiē些
huā花
duǒ朵
méi没
guò过
jǐ几
tiān天
jiù就
wěi萎
luò落
le了
。
Due to the lack of water, these flowers withered after just a few days.
verb
to decline; to wane; to fall into decay (of families, businesses, or traditions)
Refers to families, businesses, traditions, or other abstract entities declining from a prosperous state. More abstract than the first sense.
Zhè这
gè个
céng曾
jīng经
xiǎn显
hè赫
de的
jiā家
zú族
rú如
jīn今
yǐ已
jiàn渐
jiàn渐
wěi萎
luò落
。
This once-prominent family has gradually declined today.
Yóu由
yú于
jīng经
yíng营
bù不
shàn善
，
nà那
jiā家
bǎi百
nián年
lǎo老
diàn店
zuì最
zhōng终
wěi萎
luò落
le了
。
Due to poor management, that century-old shop eventually declined.