砂漠(さばく)

砂漠(さばく) refers to a vast, arid region with little rainfall and sparse vegetation. Japan has no true deserts, so this word is mainly encountered in geography, news about foreign countries, and figurative expressions.

Etymology

砂(さ) (sand) + 漠(ばく) (vague, vast).

Common collocations

• サハラ砂漠(さばく): Sahara Desert
• 砂漠化(さばくか): desertification
• 砂漠(さばく)の中(なか): in the middle of the desert
• 砂漠(さばく)地帯(ちたい): desert zone/region

Usage

Sometimes used metaphorically to describe emptiness or barrenness: 心(こころ)の砂漠(さばく) (emotional wasteland), 文化(ぶんか)の砂漠(さばく) (cultural desert).

Watch out

Do not confuse with the verb 裁(さば)く (to judge), which shares the same reading but has different kanji and meaning.