凋零 (diāo líng) — (of plants) to wither and fall; (figurative) to decline; to be on the wane; to die out
Definition
Literary verb meaning plants wither and petals/leaves fall, used figuratively for a civilization, era, or vitality fading away. Stronger and more poetic than 衰落, with a vivid image of decay and dispersal.
verb
(of plants) to wither and fall(figurative) to declineto be on the waneto die out
Examples
- ，凋零。Qiū fēng yì chuī, huā bàn fēn fēn diāo líng.When the autumn wind blows, the petals wither and fall one after another.
- 凋零。Zhè ge gǔ lǎo de wén míng yǐ jīng diāo líng le.This ancient civilization has already declined.
- ，凋零，。Nián qīng shí nà me fēng guāng, wǎn nián què rú cǐ diāo líng, lìng rén gǎn kǎi.He was so glamorous when young, yet in his later years he withered away like this—it's really moving.
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