TongTong
Sign in

疲软 (pí ruǎn) — (of economy, market, currency) weak, sluggish, bearish; (of demand) slumping, softening

Definition

An adjective for things in decline, used almost exclusively for economies, markets, demand, or prices — not people. The first definition covers economy/market/currency weakness; the second narrows it to demand or sales softening.

adjective
(of economy, market, currency) weaksluggishbearish(of demand) slumpingsoftening

Examples

  • 疲软，。
    Jīn nián jīng jì pí ruǎn, hěn duō gōng sī dōu cái yuán le.
    The economy is sluggish this year, and many companies have laid off staff.
  • 疲软。
    Huò bì pí ruǎn dǎo zhì jìn kǒu shāng pǐn jià gé shàng zhǎng.
    The weakening currency caused imported goods prices to rise.
  • 疲软，。
    Shì chǎng xū qiú pí ruǎn, chǎn pǐn xiāo liàng dà fú xià jiàng.
    Market demand has slumped, and product sales have dropped sharply.

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pítired
软ruǎnsoft

Tired and soft together describe a weak, sluggish state.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
疒疒nèsick
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí疲
Same sound today

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

Open 疲 →

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 軟; 软 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
耎
耎ruǎn軟ruǎn
Same sound today

The traditional form 軟 pairs 車 (carriage) with 耎 as a sound part; 耎 depicted a man under rain, and simplified 软 uses a later right side instead of 耎.

Open 软 →
Appears in
Economy & Trade

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.