折戟沉沙

Traditional form:

折戟沉沙

Pinyin (reading):

zhéjǐchénshā

Definitions:

• lit. broken halberds embedded in the sand (idiom)
• fig. reminder of a fierce battle; remnants of a disastrous defeat

Characters:

• 折 - to break, to snap; to fold, to bend; to bow; humble
• 戟 - a double-bladed axe
• 沉 - to sink, to submerge; profound, deep
• 沙 - sand, gravel, pebbles; granulated

Traditional characters:

• 折 - to break, to snap; to fold, to bend; to bow; humble
• 戟 - a double-bladed axe
• 沉 - to sink, to submerge; profound, deep
• 沙 - sand, gravel, pebbles; granulated