死灰 (sǐ huī) — dying embers, burnt-out cinders; (figurative) a state of extreme discouragement, hopelessness, or loneliness
Definition
Literally 'dead ash' — dying embers used as a metaphor for total hopelessness or lifelessness (心成死灰 'one's heart turned to dead ash'). Almost always appears in figurative contexts, not literal ones.
noun
dying embersburnt-out cinders(figurative) a state of extreme discouragementhopelessnessor loneliness
Examples
- 死灰，。Tā de xīn qíng xiàng sǐ huī yí yàng, duì shēng huó shī qù le rè qíng.His mood was like dying embers, having lost passion for life.
- ，死灰。Kàn dào zì jǐ de nǔ lì méi yǒu jié guǒ, tā de xīn chéng le yí piàn sǐ huī.Seeing his efforts without results, his heart became a pile of dying embers.
- ，死灰，。Jīng lì le nà cì dǎ jī hòu, tā zhěng gè rén dōu rú tóng sǐ huī, háo wú shēng qì.After experiencing that blow, he was like dying embers, completely lifeless.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.