潦 lǎo to flood
to flood; dejected; careless
How to remember 潦: 氵 water + 尞 bonfire = to flood. The water of the river rises all night, and the campers watch it reach their bonfire and start to flood the whole meadow.
Component breakdown
潦 = 氵 water + 尞 bonfire
- 氵 water
- 尞 bonfire
The water of the river rises all night, and the campers watch it reach their bonfire and start to flood the whole meadow.
How it is used
- In 潦草 (liáocǎo) it means sloppy/careless - 字迹潦草 (zìjì liáocǎo) illegible scrawl, or work done carelessly.
- In 潦倒 (liáodǎo, read lǎo → but standardly liáo here) it means down-and-out/frustrated in life: 穷困潦倒 destitute and dejected.