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用尽 (yòng jìn) — to use up; to exhaust

Definition

Verb meaning 'to use up / exhaust' completely, often paired with 把 and a resource (effort, savings, materials). Stronger than 花费 or 用, which can simply mean 'to spend/use'.

verb
to use upto exhaust

Examples

  • 用尽，。
    Tā yǐ jīng yòng jìn le suǒ yǒu bàn fǎ, hái shì méi chéng gōng.
    He has exhausted all his methods but still hasn't succeeded.
  • 用尽，。
    Wǒ bǎ jī xù yòng jìn le, mǎi le yí tào fáng zi.
    I used up all my savings and bought an apartment.
  • 用尽，。
    Zhè xiē cái liào kuài bèi yòng jìn le, dé zài dìng yì xiē.
    These materials are almost used up; we need to order more.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

用yònguse
尽jìnexhaust

“用” means use and “尽” adds exhaustion, giving the sense of using something up completely.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 盡; 尽 is its simplified writing.

  • 聿聿yùhand holding a brush
  • 灬灬huǒbristles
  • 皿皿mǐndish

The traditional form 盡 shows 聿 (hand holding a brush) and 灬 (bristles) over 皿 (dish), cleaning a dish until it is empty. The simplified 尽 is a shorthand, not those historical parts.

Open 尽 →
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