萧 (xiāo) - Artemisia (a type of wormwood plant) & desolate, dreary, bleak

萧Tone 1

xiāo ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

萧 · xiāo

Artemisia (a type of wormwood plant);

desolate, dreary, bleak;

a common Chinese surname (Xiao).

Artemisia (a type of wormwood plant)desolate, dreary, bleaka common Chinese surname (Xiao).

Usage highlights

Xiao surnameDesolate sceneXiao familyBleak and drearyXiao HeArtemisia plant

Synonyms

  • 肃— solemn, respectful (shares the serious/solemn connotation)
  • 凉— cool, cold (similar to the bleak/desolate sense)

Antonyms

  • 荣— flourishing, prosperous (opposite of bleak/desolate)
  • 盛— flourishing, prosperous (opposite of desolate)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The Xiao family (萧家) has a long history.
  • The scene was bleak and desolate (萧瑟).
  • Artemisia is used in traditional medicine (萧 can refer to wormwood).
  • He comes from a distinguished Xiao lineage (萧氏).

Collocations

  • Xiao surname(萧姓)
  • Desolate scene(萧瑟)
  • Xiao family(萧家)
  • Bleak and dreary(萧索)
  • Xiao He(萧何 - Han dynasty chancellor)
  • Artemisia plant(艾萧)

Idioms

  • The wind soughs and the cranes cry(风萧鹤唳)
  • Desolate and bleak(萧瑟凄凉)
  • All is bleak and desolate(满目萧然)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the most common Chinese surnames, ranking among the top 30 most frequent surnames in China.
  • Historically associated with the Xiao family of the Southern Dynasties period, who were prominent aristocrats and rulers.
  • The character's plant radical reflects its original meaning as a type of wormwood or artemisia.
  • In literature, often used to describe autumnal scenes and feelings of melancholy or solitude.

FAQ