疲劳 (pí láo) — tired, fatigued, weary | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

疲劳 is a more formal/written word for physical or mental weariness than everyday 累. Stronger than 困 ('sleepy'); at HSK7 level 同义 siblings 疲惫 and 疲倦 are near-interchangeable with it.

adjective

tiredfatiguedweary

Examples

疲劳。
Lián xù jiā bān ràng tā gǎn dào fēi cháng pí láo.
Working overtime continuously made him feel very fatigued.
疲劳，。
pí láo De shí hou, zuì hǎo xiū xi yí xià.
When you're tired, it's best to rest a bit.
疲劳。
Tā pí láo dì bì shàng le yǎn jing.
He wearily closed his eyes.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

疲 means tired and 劳 also conveys weariness, together describing being worn out.

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.

疒皮疲

Meaning part形符xíngfú

疒疒nèsick

Sound part声符shēngfú

皮

Same sound today

疲 pairs 疒, which shows illness, with 皮, which gives its sound; the character means sick and tired.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 勞; 劳 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

𬡤

𬡤𬡤勞láo

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勞 uses 力 for the meaning and 𬡤 for the sound; the simplified 劳 is a later shortened shape.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Illness & Symptoms

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