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乏力 (fá lì) — (adjective) weak, feeble, lacking in physical strength; (verb) to be not up to the task, to lack the ability or energy to do something

Definition

乏力 highlights a deficit of strength or energy, often in body or spirit, and is commonly used for 'feeling drained.' Unlike 弱 (a plain 'weak') or 无力 ('powerless, unable to act'), it leans toward a state or feeling rather than an inherent trait.

adjective
weakfeeblelacking in physical strength
verb
to be not up to the task, to lack the ability or energy to do something

Examples

  • ，乏力。
    Tā dà bìng chū yù, quán shēn fá lì.
    He has just recovered from a serious illness and feels weak all over.
  • ，乏力。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù nán dù tài dà, wǒ dān xīn zì jǐ fá lì.
    This project is too difficult; I'm afraid I'm not up to it.
  • ，乏力。
    Zuì jìn gōng zuò yā lì dà, zǒng gǎn jué jīng shén fá lì.
    Work has been stressful lately, and I always feel mentally drained.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

乏fálack
力lìstrength

乏 says lack and 力 says strength, so the sense is lacking strength.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 乏 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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