塌 tā to collapse
to collapse; to fall into ruin
How to remember 塌: 土 earth + 日 sun + 羽 feather = to collapse. The old barn's earth walls crack after years of sun, a feather drifts off the roof, and the whole thing begins to collapse.
Component breakdown
塌 = 土 earth + 𦐇
- 土 earth
- 𦐇
- 日 sun
- 羽 feather
The old barn's earth walls crack after years of sun, a feather drifts off the roof, and the whole thing begins to collapse.
How it is used
- To cave in/collapse: 倒塌 (dǎotā) (a building) collapses, 塌方 (tāfāng) a cave-in/landslide.
- Figurative 塌实 / 踏实 (tāshi) = down-to-earth, settled; 天塌下来 (tiān tā xiàlái) 'the sky falls' = disaster strikes.
- 一塌糊涂 (yìtāhútú) = a complete mess.