石田 (shí tián) — barren land, non-arable field (classical term)

Definition

石田 (dàntián) is a classical/literary noun for a barren, non-arable field — land that cannot grow crops. In classical texts it is often used metaphorically for something useless.

noun
barren landnon-arable field (classical term)
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 石田，。
    Tā men kāi kěn de zhè piàn tǔ dì qí shí shì shí tián, shén me yě cháng bù chū lái.
    The land they cultivated was actually barren field; nothing could grow.
  • ，石田。
    Zài gǔ diǎn wén xiàn zhōng, shí tián cháng yòng lái bǐ yù wú yòng zhī wù.
    In classical literature, 'shí tián' is often used as a metaphor for useless things.
  • ，石田。
    Jīng guò duō cì cháng shì, tā fàng qì le zhè kuài shí tián.
    After many attempts, he gave up this barren field.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

石shístone
田tiánfield

石 gives stone and 田 gives field, describing a stony, barren field.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 石 shows a stone under a cliff-like overhang, or a cave set into a cliff side.

Open 石 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

田 looks like a field divided into four sections.

Open 田 →

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