墟 (xū) - Ruins, wasteland, deserted place & market, fair (in some dialects)

墟Tone 1

xū ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

墟 · xū

Ruins, wasteland, deserted place;

market, fair (in some dialects);

ghost town.

Ruins, wasteland, deserted placemarket, fair (in some dialects)ghost town.

Usage highlights

RuinsAncient ruinsWastelandMarket townVillage marketRuins of a capital

Synonyms

  • 废— abandoned, useless
  • 荒— desolate, wild
  • 市— market (in the market sense)

Antonyms

  • 盛— flourishing, prosperous
  • 兴— thriving, rising
  • 旺— prosperous, bustling

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancient city is now in ruins (古城废墟).
  • They excavated the ruins of an ancient civilization (古代文明的墟).
  • There is a market in the village today (村里有墟市).
  • The abandoned factory has become a wasteland (废弃工厂变成了墟).

Collocations

  • Ruins(废墟)
  • Ancient ruins(古墟)
  • Wasteland(荒墟)
  • Market town(墟市)
  • Village market(乡墟)
  • Ruins of a capital(故墟)

Idioms

  • Jingwei trying to fill the sea(精卫填墟)
  • Returning to one's hometown to find it in ruins(归乡成墟)
  • The market is bustling(墟市喧阗)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, '墟' referred to abandoned sites of former settlements or capitals.
  • In southern Chinese dialects (especially Cantonese), '墟' means a rural market or fair, often held periodically.
  • The character embodies the concept of rise and fall, prosperity and decline in Chinese philosophy.

FAQ