隕 (yǔn) - To fall & to drop

隕Tone 3

yǔn ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

悦丈

隕 · yǔn

To fall;

to drop;

to perish;

to die;

specifically refers to the falling of celestial bodies like meteors or stars.

To fallto dropto perish

Usage highlights

MeteoriteTo fallTo perishTo dieTo fall and dieTo be destroyed

Synonyms

  • 落— to fall
  • 坠— to fall, to drop
  • 亡— to perish, to die

Antonyms

  • 升— to rise
  • 起— to rise, to begin

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • A meteor fell from the sky (陨石从天空陨落).
  • Many heroes perished in the battle (许多英雄在战斗中陨殁).
  • The star fell, symbolizing the death of a great person (巨星陨落).
  • The ancient city fell into ruin (古城陨灭).

Collocations

  • Meteorite(陨石)
  • To fall(陨落)
  • To perish(陨殁)
  • To die(陨命)
  • To fall and die(陨逝)
  • To be destroyed(陨灭)

Idioms

  • A star falls and a great man passes away(星陨落)
  • The jade burns and the stone splits(玉石俱焚, related concept of destruction)
  • Meteorite from the sky(天外陨石)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese astronomy, the falling of a star was often interpreted as an omen, foretelling the death of an important figure or a significant event.
  • The character carries a classical, literary tone and is often used in formal or poetic contexts to describe death or downfall with dignity.
  • Meteorites (陨石) have been recorded in Chinese historical texts, sometimes viewed as celestial phenomena with symbolic meaning.

FAQ