瘦弱 (shòu ruò) — thin and weak; emaciated | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Combines 瘦 (thin) and 弱 (weak) to describe a person, animal, or plant that is both skinny and frail — usually from illness or poor conditions, suggesting fragility rather than just slimness.

adjective

thin and weakemaciated

Examples

，瘦弱。
Tā bìng le yì chǎng, shēn tǐ biàn de hěn shòu ruò.
He became very thin and weak after being ill.
瘦弱，。
Zhè zhī xiǎo māo tài shòu ruò le, xū yào hǎo hǎo zhào gù.
This kitten is too thin and weak; it needs good care.
瘦弱，。
Nà kē xiǎo shù cháng dé fēi cháng shòu ruò, kě néng méi yǒu zú gòu de yáng guāng.
That small tree is growing very thin and weak; it might not have enough sunlight.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

瘦 and 弱 both describe the body, together meaning thin and weak.

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.

疒叟瘦

Meaning part形符xíngfú

疒疒nè

Sound part声符shēngfú

叟

叟sǒu瘦shòu

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

瘦 is built from 疒 and 叟: 疒 gives the meaning, and 叟 gives the sound.

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

弓弓gōngbow
彡彡shānhair, meaning "decoration" in this case

弱 pairs 弓 (bow) with 彡 (hair), showing a decorative bow that is functionally inferior, or a shaking, worn-out bow.

Appears in

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