荒 huāng wasteland
wasteland; desert; desolate; shortage; scarce; absurd
How it came to be
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
Grass gives the meaning and the flood below the sound.
用法
- Wild/wasteland and, by extension, absurd or scarce: 荒地 (huāngdì) wasteland, 荒凉 (huāngliáng) desolate, 荒废 (huāngfèi) to let go to waste / neglect (荒废学业 to neglect one's studies).
- Two extensions: absurdity: 荒唐 (huāngtáng) / 荒谬 (huāngmiù) preposterous; and shortage: 饥荒 (jīhuang) famine, 荒年 (huāngnián) a lean year.