不毛之地 (bù máo zhī dì) — barren land; wasteland; desert; (figurative) uncivilized or culturally barren place
Definition
Literary set phrase meaning 'barren land / wasteland', literally 'a place where not even grass (毛) grows.' Use it for both physical wastelands and, metaphorically, culturally or intellectually sterile environments.
noun
barren landwastelanddesert(figurative) uncivilized or culturally barren place
Measure word · 块
Examples
- 不毛之地。Zhè piàn bù máo zhī dì céng jīng shì shā mò.This barren land was once a desert.
- 不毛之地，。Nà lǐ shì bù máo zhī dì, shén me yě bù cháng.That place is barren land; nothing grows.
- ，不毛之地。Zhè ge dì qū de wén huà fēn wéi hěn chà, jiǎn zhí shì yí piàn bù máo zhī dì.The cultural atmosphere in this area is very poor; it's simply a cultural wasteland.
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