Definition
荼 is a bound form (b.f.) that appears in literary and idiomatic expressions. In classical texts it refers to a bitter edible plant (sowthistle), but modern learners most often encounter it in the chengyu 如火如荼 (rú huǒ rú tú, 'like a raging fire'), where 荼 actually refers to the white flowers of the reed. It also appears in the compound 荼毒 (tú dú) meaning 'to poison, to cause suffering'.
b.f.
(literary) a bitter edible plant (sowthistle)(in compounds) used in 如火如荼 'like a raging fire' and 荼毒 'to poisonto cause suffering'
Examples
- 。Bǐsài jìnxíng de rú huǒ rú tú.The competition is like a raging fire.
- 。Dúpǐn tú dú le xǔduō niánqīng rén.Drugs have poisoned many young people.
- 。Zhè zhǒng yàowù de fùzuòyòng shì tú dú shēnglíng.The side effect of this drug is poisoning living beings.
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