拓荒

tuòhuāng

verb #34,973

Meanings

1 to open up wasteland (for cultivation)
2 to pioneer
3 to break new ground

Characters

to open up, expand

wilderness, wasteland

Examples

HSK 5

他是这个领域的拓荒者。

Tā shì zhège lǐngyù de tuòhuāngzhě.

He is a pioneer in this field.

HSK 6

早期移民在西部拓荒。

Zǎoqī yímín zài xībù tuòhuāng.

Early settlers opened up wasteland in the west.

Tips

usage

The literal sense (清理荒地耕种) is about turning wilderness into farmland - the American 'Old West' image. The figurative sense, 拓荒者 ('a pioneer'), is widely used in business and academic writing for someone breaking new ground in a field.

Stroke Order

拓 tuò

荒 huāng