How to Write 凋 (diāo) — Meaning “to wither; to fade”

Imagine a frozen circle (周) of flowers covered by ice (冫), slowly withering away. This reinforces the idea of cold causing plants to fade in a natural cycle.

Start with the left radical 冫: a small dot then a longer dot. Then write the outer frame of 周, followed by 土 inside and the bottom horizontal. Avoid making the left radical too large or placing the dots unevenly.

凋 means to wither and has the ice radical 冫 with 周. 冼 (xiǎn) uses the water radical 氵 with 先 and means to wash. 冽 (liè) also has 冫 but with 列 and means extremely cold. Focus on the right component and meaning.

凋 appears in literary descriptions of flowers or plants withering, like 凋谢, and metaphorically for decline, e.g., 凋零. It is common in classical poetry and formal writing, but less used in daily speech.

Common words containing 凋 include: 凋谢 (diāo xiè) — to wither and fade (of flowers); 凋零 (diāo líng) — to wither away; to pass away; 凋落 (diāo luò) — to wither and fall.