Meaning
枯萎 describes the process of plants losing moisture and vitality, causing them to dry up, shrivel, and die. It can refer to flowers, leaves, or entire plants losing their freshness and life force. The word is also used metaphorically to describe things losing their vitality or vigor.
Usage
Primarily used for plants and vegetation. Native speakers commonly use it to describe wilted flowers, dying crops, or dried-up grass. Can be extended metaphorically to describe declining enthusiasm, fading relationships, or deteriorating situations. Often appears in literary or descriptive contexts rather than casual conversation.
Examples
- 01没有水分，这些花很快就枯萎了。, .Without water, these flowers quickly withered.
- 02长期干旱导致庄稼枯萎死亡。.The prolonged drought caused the crops to wither and die.
Characters
Common collocations
- 花朵枯萎flowers wither
- 枯萎的植物withered plants
- 逐渐枯萎gradually wither
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to plant death. 枯 contains the tree radical (木) and originally depicted dried wood. 萎 contains the grass radical (艹) and describes drooping, wilting plants.