飘零 (piāo líng) — to fall and wither (like autumn leaves); (fig.) to drift and be homeless

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to fall and wither' (leaves) and, figuratively, 'to drift homeless' (people forced from home). Strongly written/poetic register — not for casual speech.

verb
to fall and wither (like autumn leaves)(fig.) to drift and be homeless

Examples

  • ，飘零。
    Qiū tiān dào le, shù yè fēn fēn piāo líng.
    Autumn has arrived, and leaves are falling and withering one after another.
  • 飘零，。
    Tā dú zì zài wài piāo líng duō nián, zhōng yú huí dào le jiā xiāng.
    He drifted alone outside for many years, finally returning to his hometown.
  • ，飘零，。
    Zhàn luàn zhōng, xǔ duō jiā tíng bèi pò piāo líng, sì chù liú làng.
    During the war, many families were forced to drift and wander everywhere.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

飘piāodrift
零língwither

飘 gives drifting and 零 gives falling or withering, describing something adrift and lost.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 飄; 飘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
風風fēngwind
Sound part声符shēngfú
票
票piào飄piāo
Same sound today

The traditional form 飄 uses 票 for the sound and 風 for wind; the simplified 飘 is a shorthand.

Open 飘 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng零líng
Same sound today

In 零, the 雨 part depicts thick raindrops falling from the sky; the 令 part gives the sound.

Open 零 →

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