精疲力竭 (jīng pí lì jié) — completely exhausted, spent, drained (idiomatic)

Definition

A vivid chengyu for total exhaustion — stronger and more literary than 疲惫. 无精打采 describes low energy/mood, while this phrase means the body is completely spent.

phrase
completely exhaustedspentdrained (idiomatic)

Examples

  • ，精疲力竭。
    Lián xù jiā bān sān tiān hòu, tā gǎn dào jīng pí lì jié.
    After working overtime for three days straight, he felt completely exhausted.
  • ，精疲力竭。
    Pǎo wán yì chǎng mǎ lā sōng hòu, dà jiā dōu jīng pí lì jié le.
    Everyone was utterly spent after finishing a marathon.
  • ，，精疲力竭。
    Wèi le bèi kǎo, tā měi tiān zhī shuì sān xiǎo shí, zuì hòu jīng pí lì jié.
    To prepare for the exam, she only slept three hours a day and ended up completely drained.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

精疲spirit weary
精jīngspirit疲píweary
主谓Subject + predicate
力竭strength exhausted
力lìstrength竭jiéexhausted
主谓Subject + predicate

「精疲」 says spirit is weary and 「力竭」 says strength is spent, together meaning completely 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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →

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 7-9Idioms & Set PhrasesIllness & Symptoms

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