枯 (kū) - withered, dried up, decayed & dull, uninteresting

枯Tone 1

kū ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 木

俊梁

枯 · kū

withered, dried up, decayed;

dull, uninteresting;

to dry out

withered, dried up, decayeddull, uninterestingto dry out

Usage highlights

withered treedry grassdried up wellwithered bonesdull and drywithered and fallen

Synonyms

  • 萎— wilt, wither
  • 槁— dried up, withered
  • 干— dry

Antonyms

  • 荣— flourishing, prosperous
  • 茂— luxuriant, lush
  • 润— moist, smooth

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The tree has withered (树枯了).
  • Dry wood is used for firewood (枯木).
  • The well has dried up (井枯了).
  • He has a monotonous life (生活枯寂).

Collocations

  • withered tree(枯树)
  • dry grass(枯草)
  • dried up well(枯井)
  • withered bones(枯骨)
  • dull and dry(枯燥)
  • withered and fallen(枯落)

Idioms

  • Withered tree in spring(枯木逢春)
  • Searching for fish in a dry tree(缘木求鱼)
  • Withered mulberry knows the weather(枯桑知天风)
  • Withered bone regeneration(枯骨生肉)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, 'withered' often symbolizes decline, death, or the end of a cycle.
  • Used metaphorically to describe lack of vitality, creativity, or spiritual dryness.
  • Appears frequently in classical poetry to convey desolation and the passage of time.
  • In Buddhism, 'withered' can represent detachment from worldly desires.

FAQ