diu1 ling4凋零
Jyutpingdiu1 ling4
Yaledīu lìhng
Definition
To wither or decay, typically referring to plants, or metaphorically to decline and perish.
- to wither and decay, typically of plants
- figurativeto decline, ruin, or perish
neutralnaturedescriptions
How it's used
Evokes a sense of melancholy and inevitable decline, often used to describe the fading of beauty or the gradual disappearance of traditional culture. While it primarily refers to plants, it is frequently applied metaphorically to businesses, neighborhoods, or even human vitality. It carries a more literary and poetic weight than everyday words like 枯.
Examples
Once the autumn wind blows, the flowers begin to wither.
The small shops in this old district are gradually fading away, which is a pity.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a sudden death or a quick break; it specifically implies a slow, progressive process of decay or loss of life force.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
