荒 huāng wasteland
wasteland; desert; desolate; shortage; scarce; absurd
How it came to be
Grass over the flood block, water running wide with nothing to hold it. Ground gone back to weeds and flood: what is left when nobody works it.
How it is used
- 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.