萎 (wēi) - to wither & to droop

萎Tone 1

wēi ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

萎 · wēi

to wither;

to droop;

to decline;

to fade;

to languish;

to become listless or dispirited.

to witherto droopto decline

Usage highlights

wither and fallwiltdecline and falllistless and dispiritedatrophywither away

Synonyms

  • 枯— to dry up; withered
  • 谢— to wither; to fade
  • 衰— to decline; to weaken

Antonyms

  • 荣— flourishing; prosperous
  • 盛— flourishing; vigorous
  • 茂— luxuriant; lush

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The flowers withered in the heat (花儿萎了).
  • The plant drooped from lack of water (植物因缺水而萎蔫).
  • His spirits declined after the setback (他的精神萎靡了).
  • The market for that product has faded (那个产品的市场萎缩了).

Collocations

  • wither and fall(萎落)
  • wilt(萎蔫)
  • decline and fall(萎谢)
  • listless and dispirited(萎靡)
  • atrophy(萎缩)
  • wither away(萎凋)

Idioms

  • Listless and dispirited(萎靡不振)
  • Wither away and die(萎凋死亡)
  • The flower withers before blooming(花未开而先萎)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used in classical poetry to symbolize fading beauty, decline, or the passage of time.
  • In traditional medicine, can refer to syndromes involving weakness or atrophy of limbs or organs.
  • Carries a generally negative connotation of decay, weakness, or loss of vitality.

FAQ