莱 (lái) - Chenopodium album (lamb's quarters/goosefoot) & wasteland

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lái ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

莱 · lái

Chenopodium album (lamb's quarters/goosefoot);

wasteland;

used in transliterations and place names.

Chenopodium album (lamb's quarters/goosefoot)wastelandused in transliterations and place names.

Usage highlights

Chenopodium albumwastelandLaiwu cityancient state of LaiLaizhou cityLaiyang city

Synonyms

  • 藜— Chenopodium album (same plant)
  • 荒— wasteland, desolate

Antonyms

  • 沃— fertile, rich (soil)
  • 熟— cultivated, familiar

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The plant Chenopodium album is edible (藜).
  • He comes from a remote wasteland (荒莱).
  • The city of Laiwu is in Shandong (莱芜).
  • The ancient state of Lai was located here (莱国).

Collocations

  • Chenopodium album(藜莱)
  • wasteland(荒莱)
  • Laiwu city(莱芜)
  • ancient state of Lai(莱国)
  • Laizhou city(莱州)
  • Laiyang city(莱阳)

Idioms

  • To open up wasteland(辟莱)
  • The fields are overgrown with weeds(田莱)
  • To clear weeds and plant crops(艾莱)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to Chenopodium album, a common edible weed in China.
  • Extended meaning to wasteland or uncultivated land covered with weeds.
  • Used in many place names in Shandong province, related to the ancient state of Lai.

FAQ