藁 (gǎo) - Withered grass & dry straw

藁Tone 3

gǎo ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

藁 · gǎo

Withered grass;

dry straw;

specifically refers to gaoliang (sorghum) stalks;

also a place name (Gaocheng District in Shijiazhuang, Hebei).

Withered grassdry strawspecifically refers to gaoliang (sorghum) stalks

Usage highlights

Sorghum stalksWithered grassGaochengStraw matStraw beddingStraw target

Synonyms

  • 稿— draft, manuscript; straw (similar meaning for dried plant material)
  • 秆— stalk, stem (of plants)
  • 草— grass, straw

Antonyms

  • 荣— flourishing, prosperous (antonym to withered)
  • 茂— luxuriant, lush

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They used sorghum stalks (藁秆) for fuel.
  • The fields were covered with withered grass (枯藁).
  • Gaocheng District was formerly Gaocheng County (藁城).
  • Ancient texts mention using gaoliang for thatching (藁荐).

Collocations

  • Sorghum stalks(藁秆)
  • Withered grass(枯藁)
  • Gaocheng (place name)(藁城)
  • Straw mat(藁席)
  • Straw bedding(藁荐)
  • Straw target(藁人)

Idioms

  • Withered and decayed(形容枯藁)
  • To die of starvation(藁葬)
  • Straw coffin burial(藁葬)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with poverty and simple rural life, as straw was a common material for fuel, bedding, and thatching.
  • The character appears in place names like Gaocheng (藁城) in Hebei province, which was an important historical area.
  • In classical texts, often used metaphorically to represent desolation, dryness, or humble circumstances.

FAQ