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枯竭 (kū jié) — dried up (of water sources, rivers); exhausted (of resources, creativity)

Definition

Used for non-living things — water sources, resources, inspiration — that have run out. Stronger and more literary than 干枯 (which describes plants drying out) and 穷 (often people, or a complement after 用).

adjective
dried up (of water sources, rivers)exhausted (of resources, creativity)

Examples

  • 枯竭。
    Hé lǐ de shuǐ yǐ jīng kū jié le.
    The water in the river has already dried up.
  • 枯竭。
    Chéng shì de zī yuán jiàn jiàn kū jié le.
    The city's resources are gradually exhausting.
  • ，枯竭。
    Tā xiě bù chū dōng xī, líng gǎn kū jié le.
    He can't write anything; his inspiration has dried up.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

枯kūdried up
竭jiéexhausted

枯 means dried up and 竭 means exhausted.

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ枯kū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

枯 pairs 木 (tree) with 古, which gives the sound.

Open 枯 →

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
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
曷
曷hé竭jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

竭 is built from 立 and 曷: 立 carries the meaning part, while 曷 supplies the sound.

Open 竭 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Environment & Ecology

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