adjective HSK 5
fertile · rich (soil)
Meaning
肥沃 describes soil or land that is rich in nutrients and capable of producing abundant crops. It combines the concepts of being 'fat' or 'rich' (肥) and 'irrigated' or 'productive' (沃) to convey the idea of highly productive agricultural land.
Usage
This word is primarily used in agricultural, geographical, or literary contexts to describe land quality. It's commonly paired with 土地 (land) or 土壤 (soil) and is generally used in more formal or written Chinese rather than casual conversation.
Examples
- 01这个地区的土壤非常肥沃，适合种植各种农作物。, .The soil in this region is very fertile and suitable for growing various crops.
- 02尼罗河三角洲因为每年的洪水而变得肥沃。.The Nile Delta becomes fertile because of the annual floods.
Characters
Common collocations
- 肥沃的土地fertile land
- 肥沃的土壤fertile soil
- 土地肥沃the land is fertile
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to agricultural productivity. 肥 originally referred to manure or fertilizer (making things 'fat'), while 沃 (with the water radical 氵) means to irrigate or water, essential for fertile land.