历尽 (lì jǐn) — to have experienced (hardship, difficulties, etc.) extensively; to go through (many trials)

Definition

Written/formal verb meaning 'to have gone through (hardship) extensively' — pairs with nouns like 千辛万苦 or 磨难 to emphasize enduring many trials. Not for casual everyday use.

verb
to have experienced (hardship, difficulties, etc.) extensivelyto go through (many trials)

Examples

  • 历尽，。
    Tā lì jǐn qiān xīn wàn kǔ, zhōng yú chéng gōng le.
    He went through untold hardships and finally succeeded.
  • 历尽，。
    Zhè wèi kē xué jiā lì jǐn mó nàn, jiān chí yán jiū.
    This scientist endured many hardships and persisted in research.
  • 历尽，。
    Tā lì jǐn fēng yǔ, yī rán lè guān.
    She has weathered many storms and remains optimistic.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

历lìundergo
尽jìnexhaust

历 shows undergoing, while 尽 adds that it is exhausted or completed, giving the sense of having gone through fully.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歷; 历 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 历 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (简历, 经历) it is 歷; in others (日历) it is 曆.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
厤
厤lì歷lì
Same sound today

The form 歷 pairs 止 with the sound part 厤.

Open 历 →

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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