Usage note
这个词的意思是“沙漠”，指一个非常干燥、很少下雨、有很多沙子的地方。
Zhège cí de yìsi shì 'shāmò', zhǐ yīgè fēicháng gānzào, hěn shǎo xiàyǔ, yǒu hěnduō shāzi dì dìfāng.
This word means 'desert', referring to a very dry place with little rain and lots of sand.
Context note
沙漠里白天很热，晚上很冷。有些动物和植物能适应沙漠的生活。
Shāmò lǐ báitiān hěn rè, wǎnshang hěn lěng. Yǒuxiē dòngwù hé zhíwù néng shìyìng shāmò de shēnghuó.
It's very hot in the desert during the day and very cold at night. Some animals and plants can adapt to life in the desert.
5 examples
骆驼在沙漠里可以很多天不喝水。
luò tuó zài shā mò lǐ kě yǐ hěn duō tiān bù hē shuǐ。
Camels can go many days without water in the desert.
沙漠的夜晚可以看到很多星星。
shā mò de yè wǎn kě yǐ kàn dào hěn duō xīng xīng。
You can see many stars in the desert at night.
仙人掌是一种生活在沙漠里的植物。
xiān rén zhǎng shì yì zhǒng shēng huó zài shā mò lǐ de zhí wù。
Cactus is a plant that lives in the desert.
去沙漠旅行要带很多水。
qù shā mò lǚ xíng yào dài hěn duō shuǐ。
When traveling to the desert, you need to bring a lot of water.
孩子们在地图上找到了撒哈拉沙漠。
hái zi men zài dì tú shàng zhǎo dào le sā hā lā shā mò。
The children found the Sahara Desert on the map.
5 mini stories
小东在梦里来到了一片沙漠。沙漠里有一只友好的骆驼。
xiǎo dōng zài mèng lǐ lái dào le yí piàn shā mò。 shā mò lǐ yǒu yì zhī yǒu hǎo de luò tuó。
Xiao Dong came to a desert in his dream. There was a friendly camel in the desert.
老师讲了沙漠的故事。沙漠里有很多有趣的动物。
lǎo shī jiǎng le shā mò de gù shì。 shā mò lǐ yǒu hěn duō yǒu qù de dòng wù。
The teacher told a story about the desert. There are many interesting animals in the desert.
夏天的时候，爸爸带我去看沙漠。沙漠的沙子很细很软。
xià tiān de shí hòu， bà ba dài wǒ qù kàn shā mò。 shā mò de shā zi hěn xì hěn ruǎn。
In summer, Dad took me to see the desert. The sand in the desert is very fine and soft.
绘本里画了一片大大的沙漠。沙漠中间有一个绿洲。
huì běn lǐ huà le yí piàn dà dà de shā mò。 shā mò zhōng jiān yǒu yí gè lǜ zhōu。
The picture book drew a big desert. There is an oasis in the middle of the desert.
我的理想是去沙漠探险。沙漠里藏着很多秘密。
wǒ de lǐ xiǎng shì qù shā mò tàn xiǎn。 shā mò lǐ cáng zhe hěn duō mì mì。
My dream is to explore the desert. The desert hides many secrets.
Mini dialogue
沙漠旅行
A
你见过沙漠吗？
Nǐ jiàn guò shāmò ma?
Have you ever seen a desert?
B
见过，沙漠里很热，还有很多沙子。
Jiàn guò, shāmò lǐ hěn rè, hái yǒu hěn duō shāzi.
Yes, it's very hot in the desert and there is a lot of sand.
沙漠动物
A
沙漠里有什么动物？
Shāmò lǐ yǒu shénme dòngwù?
What animals are in the desert?
B
沙漠里有骆驼和蜥蜴。
Shāmò lǐ yǒu luòtuo hé xīyì.
There are camels and lizards in the desert.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
绿洲
lǜzhōu
oasis
绿洲 is a fertile spot in a desert, opposite of the dry 沙漠.
related
沙丘
shāqiū
sand dune
沙丘 are the hills of sand commonly found in a 沙漠.
related
干旱
gānhàn
arid, dry
干旱 describes the dry climate of a 沙漠.