| |
| 疲惫 [2025/08/10 08:20] – created xiaoer | 疲惫 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
|---|
| ====== píbèi: 疲惫 - Exhausted, Fatigued, Worn out ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** pibei, 疲惫, píbèi, tired in Chinese, exhausted in Chinese, fatigue in Chinese, difference between lei and pibei, advanced Chinese vocabulary, HSK 5 | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the deep meaning of **疲惫 (píbèi)**, the Chinese word for being profoundly exhausted or fatigued. This page breaks down the characters 疲 and 惫, explains the cultural context of hard work (辛苦) that leads to this state, and contrasts it with the more common word 累 (lèi). With 10 practical example sentences and clear analysis, this guide is perfect for learners who want to express a deeper level of physical and mental weariness beyond just being "tired". | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** píbèi | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Adjective, Verb | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To be extremely tired; exhausted; fatigued. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **疲惫 (píbèi)** is not just your everyday "tired." It describes a deep, bone-weary exhaustion that affects both the body and the mind. Think of the feeling after a 15-hour flight, finishing a marathon, or pulling an all-nighter for a final exam. It carries more weight and formality than the common word `累 (lèi)`. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **疲 (pí):** This character is composed of the "sickness" radical `疒 (nè)` on the outside and `皮 (pí)`, meaning "skin," on the inside. You can think of it as a weariness or sickness that affects your whole body, right down to your skin. It primarily relates to physical fatigue. | |
| * **惫 (bèi):** This character is less common on its own. It has `备 (bèi)`, meaning "to prepare" or "complete," on top of the "heart/mind" radical `心 (xīn)`. This suggests a mind that has been completely used up or spent, pointing to mental exhaustion. | |
| When combined, **疲惫 (píbèi)** creates a powerful and comprehensive term for a state of being both physically drained (疲) and mentally spent (惫). | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, the value of **吃苦耐劳 (chīkǔ nàiláo)**—the ability to "eat bitterness and endure labor"—is highly esteemed. People are often expected to work or study incredibly hard to achieve goals for themselves and their families. **疲惫 (píbèi)** is the state often reached after fulfilling this cultural expectation. | |
| Unlike the simple English word "exhausted," which is often purely negative, being **疲惫** can sometimes carry a subtle, underlying sense of accomplishment or honor. It can imply that you have given your absolute all to a task, whether it's studying for the grueling **高考 (gāokǎo)** (college entrance exam) or working long hours in the "996" work culture (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week). | |
| While the Western concept of "burnout" is similar, **疲惫** is more versatile. "Burnout" usually implies a chronic, long-term state of emotional and professional exhaustion. **疲惫**, on the other hand, can describe both a temporary state (e.g., after a long trip) and a more prolonged condition. It captures the heavy feeling of weariness that comes from intense, purposeful effort. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| * **Formal and Written Contexts:** **疲惫** is more formal than its casual cousin `累 (lèi)`. You'll see it more often in literature, news reports, formal speeches, and written communication. | |
| * **Describing Intense Weariness:** It's used when "tired" just isn't strong enough. It's the perfect word for describing the aftermath of intense physical labor, long-distance travel, high-pressure projects, or significant emotional stress. | |
| * **Expressing Empathy:** You might use it to describe someone else who looks completely worn out. Saying "**你看上去很疲惫**" (You look exhausted) shows a deeper level of concern than just saying they look tired. | |
| * **Hyperbole:** While less common than `累死了 (lèi sǐ le - tired to death)`, younger generations might use **疲惫** on social media for dramatic or humorous effect to describe their state after a tough week. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 开了一整天的会，我现在感到非常**疲惫**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Kāi le yī zhěng tiān de huì, wǒ xiànzài gǎndào fēicháng **píbèi**. | |
| * English: After being in meetings all day, I feel extremely exhausted now. | |
| * Analysis: This is a classic example of using **疲惫** in a professional context to describe mental and physical exhaustion from work. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 长途旅行后，我们都**疲惫**不堪。 | |
| * Pinyin: Chángtú lǚxíng hòu, wǒmen dōu **píbèi** bùkān. | |
| * English: After the long journey, we were all unbearably exhausted. | |
| * Analysis: The structure `[Adjective] + 不堪 (bùkān)` means "unbearably [adjective]". `疲惫不堪` is a common and strong collocation. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 看到他脸上**疲惫**的表情，我就知道他最近一定很辛苦。 | |
| * Pinyin: Kàndào tā liǎn shàng **píbèi** de biǎoqíng, wǒ jiù zhīdào tā zuìjìn yīdìng hěn xīnkǔ. | |
| * English: Seeing the exhausted expression on his face, I knew he must have been going through a hard time recently. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **疲惫** is used as an adjective to modify "expression" (`表情`), describing a visible state of weariness. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 为了准备考试，他连续熬了好几个晚上，现在已经身心**疲惫**了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi kǎoshì, tā liánxù áo le hǎojǐ gè wǎnshàng, xiànzài yǐjīng shēnxīn **píbèi** le. | |
| * English: In order to prepare for the exam, he stayed up for several nights in a row and is now mentally and physically exhausted. | |
| * Analysis: `身心疲惫 (shēn xīn píbèi)` is a very common four-character phrase meaning "body and mind exhausted," perfectly capturing the dual nature of the word. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 这段时间处理家里的事，让他感到心力交**疲**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè duàn shíjiān chǔlǐ jiālǐ de shì, ràng tā gǎndào xīnlìjiāocuì. | |
| * English: Dealing with family matters during this period has made him feel mentally and physically exhausted. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence uses a related idiom, `心力交瘁 (xīnlìjiāocuì)`, which literally means "heart's strength and energy are haggard and worn out." It emphasizes emotional and mental exhaustion. Note the shared character **疲** is often written as 瘁 in this idiom. The meaning is very similar. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 运动员在完成马拉松后，拖着**疲惫**的身体走向终点。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yùndòngyuán zài wánchéng mǎlāsōng hòu, tuōzhe **píbèi** de shēntǐ zǒuxiàng zhōngdiǎn. | |
| * English: After finishing the marathon, the athlete dragged their exhausted body toward the finish line. | |
| * Analysis: This vividly paints a picture of extreme physical exhaustion, a perfect context for **疲惫**. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 无休止的争吵让他**疲惫**不堪。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wúxiūzhǐ de zhēngchǎo ràng tā **píbèi** bùkān. | |
| * English: The endless arguing made him utterly exhausted. | |
| * Analysis: This shows that **疲惫** isn't just for physical states; it's extremely effective for describing emotional drainage. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 尽管他很**疲惫**，但他还是坚持完成了工作。 | |
| * Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn tā hěn **píbèi**, dànshì tā háishì jiānchí wánchéng le gōngzuò. | |
| * English: Although he was exhausted, he still persisted and finished the work. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence structure highlights the cultural value of endurance. Being **疲惫** is the obstacle, and `坚持 (jiānchí)` is the admirable action taken despite it. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 在生活的重压下，他**疲惫**的眼神里透露出一丝无奈。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zài shēnghuó de zhòngyā xià, tā **píbèi** de yǎnshén lǐ tòulù chū yīsī wúnài. | |
| * English: Under the heavy pressure of life, his exhausted eyes revealed a trace of helplessness. | |
| * Analysis: A more literary and descriptive use, linking the physical state of **疲惫** (seen in the eyes) to deeper emotional struggles. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 我只是有点累，还没到**疲惫**的程度。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐshì yǒudiǎn lèi, hái méi dào **píbèi** de chéngdù. | |
| * English: I'm just a little tired, not to the point of being exhausted yet. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts `累 (lèi)` and **疲惫 (píbèi)**, showing that **疲惫** is on a higher level of intensity. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **`疲惫 (píbèi)` vs. `累 (lèi)`:** This is the most critical distinction. | |
| * **`累 (lèi)`:** The default, everyday word for "tired." It's informal and highly versatile. Use it when you're tired from a normal day's work, after some light exercise, or when you just feel a bit worn out. (e.g., `我今天好累。` - I'm so tired today.) | |
| * **`疲惫 (píbèi)`:** Stronger, more formal, and implies a deeper level of exhaustion affecting body and mind. Using it for a minor inconvenience sounds overly dramatic. | |
| * **Incorrect Usage:** `我走上楼，感觉很疲惫。` (I walked upstairs and feel very exhausted.) | |
| * **Why it's wrong:** Walking up a flight of stairs would make you `累`, not `疲惫`. This usage is unnatural and sounds like you're exaggerating. The correct, natural way would be: `我走上楼，感觉很累。` | |
| * **`疲惫 (píbèi)` vs. `困 (kùn)`:** | |
| * **`困 (kùn)`** means "sleepy." It's the physical sensation of needing to sleep (your eyelids feel heavy). You can be `困` without being `疲惫` (e.g., in a boring meeting). You can also be `疲惫` without being `困` (e.g., you're "wired but tired" after a stressful event). Don't use `疲惫` when you simply mean you need to go to bed. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[累]] (lèi) - The most common and general word for "tired." **疲惫** is a stronger, more formal synonym. | |
| * [[疲劳]] (píláo) - "Fatigue." Very similar to **疲惫**, but often used in more technical or medical contexts (e.g., `驾驶疲劳` - driving fatigue, `肌肉疲劳` - muscle fatigue). | |
| * [[辛苦]] (xīnkǔ) - "Hard; toilsome; laborious." This describes the *cause* of the exhaustion, not the feeling itself. It's often used to thank someone for their hard work (e.g., `辛苦你了！` - Thank you for your hard work!). | |
| * [[劳累]] (láolèi) - "Tired from exertion; overworked." Similar to **疲惫**, but with a stronger emphasis on physical labor (`劳`). | |
| * [[困]] (kùn) - "Sleepy." Refers specifically to the desire or need to sleep. | |
| * [[筋疲力尽]] (jīn pí lì jìn) - A chengyu (idiom) meaning "tendons weary, strength exhausted." An extremely vivid and powerful synonym for being completely wiped out. | |
| * [[身心俱疲]] (shēn xīn jù pí) - An idiom meaning "body and mind are both exhausted." A more formal and literary way to say `身心疲惫`. | |
| * [[吃苦耐劳]] (chīkǔ nàiláo) - An idiom describing the cultural virtue of being able to "eat bitterness and endure hardship," which often results in the state of **疲惫**. | |