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B1 verb #2,000 most common 7 min read

消耗

xiaohao Top 2,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 消耗 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 消耗 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you might not use '消耗' (xiāohào) often, as it is a bit formal. Instead, you would use simple words like '用' (yòng - use) or '吃' (chī - eat). However, you can think of it as a 'big word' for using things up. Imagine you are running; you are 'using' your energy. In Chinese, we say you are '消耗' energy. It is like a battery going from 100% to 0%. When you see this word, just think: 'something is being used and becoming less.'

At the A2 level, you start to learn about health and daily routines. '消耗' (xiāohào) is useful when talking about exercise. For example, '跑步可以消耗热量' (Running can consume/burn calories). It is also used for electricity or water. If you leave the lights on, you are '消耗' (consuming) electricity. It's different from '买' (buy) because it's about the act of using the thing until it's gone, not just paying for it.

At the B1 level, '消耗' (xiāohào) becomes a key vocabulary item for discussing resources, the environment, and work. You should distinguish it from '消费' (xiāofèi - to spend/consume economically). While '消费' is about being a customer, '消耗' is about the physical or abstract depletion of resources. You will hear it in phrases like '消耗体力' (consume physical strength) or '消耗时间' (consume time). It is a neutral word, but often appears in contexts where we want to reduce consumption to be more efficient.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using '消耗' (xiāohào) in academic and professional contexts. It is used to describe the 'depletion' of national resources, the 'attrition' in a war (消耗战), or the 'dissipation' of energy in a physical system. You should also understand its metaphorical use in psychology, such as '精神消耗' (mental depletion/internal friction). It often functions as a noun in formal writing, such as '能源消耗量' (energy consumption amount).

At the C1 level, you should master the nuances between '消耗', '损耗', and '耗费'. '消耗' is the standard term for the transformation or use of energy/resources. You will encounter it in complex socio-economic discussions, such as the 'consumptive nature' of certain industries. You should also be able to use it in idiomatic structures like '消耗殆尽' (to be completely used up). It is a vital word for writing essays on sustainability, technology, and organizational efficiency.

At the C2 level, '消耗' (xiāohào) is used with precision in specialized fields. In thermodynamics, it describes entropy and energy loss. In political science, it describes the 'war of attrition' strategies used to deplete an opponent's willpower and logistics. You will recognize it in classical-leaning modern prose to describe the 'wearing away' of life or spirit over time. Mastery at this level involves understanding how '消耗' interacts with specific technical modifiers to describe precise rates of depletion in complex systems.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

消耗 in 30 Seconds

消耗 means to consume or deplete resources, energy, or time through use.
It is a neutral term used in science, fitness, and formal reports.
Commonly paired with physical strength (体力), calories (热量), and energy (能源).
Distinguish it from 消费 (economic spending) and 浪费 (unnecessary wasting).

The term 消耗 (xiāohào) is a versatile Chinese verb and noun that primarily translates to 'to consume,' 'to use up,' or 'to deplete.' At its core, it describes the process of resources, energy, or time being gradually reduced through use or friction. In a B1 context, it is essential for discussing daily activities like exercise or work, but as one progresses to higher levels, it becomes a staple in academic and professional discussions regarding economics, thermodynamics, and sociology.

Etymological Breakdown: The first character, 消 (xiāo), means to disappear, vanish, or melt away. The second character, 耗 (hào), refers to wasting, spending, or a loss. Together, they depict a state where something is being steadily diminished until it potentially disappears.

长时间的脑力劳动会消耗大量的能量。
(Long periods of mental labor consume a large amount of energy.)

In physical science, 消耗 refers to the transformation of energy from one form to another, often implying a loss of efficiency. For example, a car engine 'consumes' fuel to produce motion, but much of that energy is 'lost' or 'consumed' as heat. In an abstract sense, it can refer to the depletion of patience, willpower, or national strength during a prolonged conflict.

这场战争消耗了这个国家的财政储备。
(This war depleted the country's financial reserves.)

Usage in Modern Slang: Recently, the term '内耗' (nèihào - internal friction/consumption) has become a buzzword in China, referring to psychological exhaustion caused by overthinking or toxic workplace environments.

减少精神消耗，才能提高生活质量。
(Only by reducing mental depletion can one improve the quality of life.)

这种新机型能有效降低电力消耗。
(This new model can effectively reduce power consumption.)

Grammatical Flexibility: It can function as a verb (消耗资源) or a noun (能量消耗). When used as a verb, it often takes objects related to abstract energy or concrete materials.

为了完成这个项目，我们消耗了大量的人力物力。
(To complete this project, we consumed a lot of manpower and material resources.)

Using 消耗 correctly requires understanding its collocations and the nuances of 'depletion.' It is most frequently used with nouns that represent a finite supply of something—whether that's physical (oil, electricity), biological (calories, stamina), or abstract (time, patience).

Collocation: Physical Resources: Used with 资源 (resources), 能源 (energy sources), 燃料 (fuel), or 水资源 (water resources). This is common in environmental and industrial contexts.

工业生产对水资源的消耗非常惊人。
(The consumption of water resources by industrial production is staggering.)

When discussing the human body, 消耗 is the standard word for 'burning' calories or 'using up' energy. In fitness contexts, you will see it paired with 体力 (physical strength), 热量 (calories), or 脂肪 (fat).

游泳是一种能快速消耗热量的运动。
(Swimming is an exercise that can quickly burn calories.)

Abstract Consumption: It can also be used for time (时间), energy/spirit (精力), or even military strength (兵力). In these cases, it often carries a slightly negative connotation of 'wearing down.'

无意义的会议只会消耗员工的斗志。
(Meaningless meetings only drain the employees' morale.)

这台旧机器的维护成本太高，消耗了过多的利润。
(The maintenance cost of this old machine is too high, eating up too much profit.)

Passive and Descriptive Use: You can describe a process as being '消耗性的' (xiāohàoxìng de - consumptive or exhaustive). For example, a 'war of attrition' is called a '消耗战' (xiāohàozhàn).

我们必须避免陷入这种无谓的消耗战。
(We must avoid falling into this kind of senseless war of attrition.)

You will encounter 消耗 in a variety of formal and semi-formal settings. It is a key term in news reports, scientific documentaries, fitness apps, and corporate strategy meetings.

In News and Media: Reports on climate change frequently mention the '消耗' of fossil fuels or the ozone layer (though '破坏' or '损耗' might also be used for the ozone). Economic news discusses the consumption of raw materials in manufacturing.

全球能源消耗量在过去十年中持续增长。
(Global energy consumption has continued to grow over the past decade.)

In the fitness world, trainers and apps use 消耗 to track progress. If you use a smartwatch, the 'calories burned' section is usually labeled as '热量消耗' or '卡路里消耗.'

这名患者表现出明显的消耗症状。
(The patient is showing clear symptoms of wasting/depletion.)

In Corporate Environments: Managers use it to describe the use of budget or human resources. It often appears in performance reviews or project post-mortems to analyze where time was 'consumed' inefficiently.

我们必须优化流程，减少不必要的人力消耗。
(We must optimize the process to reduce unnecessary manpower consumption.)

超导体在输电过程中几乎没有能量消耗。
(Superconductors have almost no energy loss during power transmission.)

Everyday Conversation: While slightly formal, people use it to describe feeling drained. '我很消耗' isn't common, but '这件事太消耗我了' (This thing is too draining for me) is increasingly heard in psychological discussions.

处理这些琐事太消耗精力了。
(Dealing with these trifles is too draining on my energy.)

Even though 消耗 is a B1 word, its boundaries with similar terms like 消费, 浪费, and 损耗 can be tricky for learners. Understanding these distinctions is key to achieving natural-sounding Chinese.

Mistake 1: Confusing with 消费 (xiāofèi): Learners often use 消耗 when they mean 'to spend money' or 'to shop.' 消费 is for economic consumption; 消耗 is for the physical or functional depletion of the resource itself.

Incorrect: 我在商场消耗了很多钱。
Correct: 我在商场消费了很多钱。
(I spent a lot of money at the mall.)

However, you can say '这台车消耗了我的积蓄' (This car consumed my savings), but this implies the car was a drain on your resources over time, not a single purchase act.

Incorrect: 他消耗了一个苹果。
Correct: 他吃了一个苹果。
(He ate an apple.)

Mistake 3: 消耗 vs. 浪费 (làngfèi): 浪费 implies the use was unnecessary or foolish. 消耗 is neutral. If you exercise, you 消耗 calories (good thing). If you leave the lights on all night, you 浪费 electricity (bad thing).

不要浪费时间在这些无意义的事情上。
(Don't waste time on these meaningless things.)

零件在长期运转中会有一定的损耗。
(Parts will have some wear and tear during long-term operation.)

Mistake 5: Overusing it for 'exhaustion': If you want to say 'I am exhausted,' use 累 (lèi) or 疲惫 (píbèi). 消耗 describes the *process* of losing energy, not the *feeling* of being tired.

Correct: 今天的比赛非常消耗体力，我现在很累。
(Today's game was very physically draining; I am very tired now.)

To master 消耗, it's helpful to compare it with other words in the 'use/spend/lose' family. Each has a specific domain of usage.

消耗 (xiāohào) vs. 耗费 (hàofèi): These are very similar. However, 耗费 often implies a larger scale and a more significant 'cost' or 'effort' (e.g., 耗费巨资 - to spend a huge amount of money, 耗费心血 - to put in a lot of heart and blood/effort). 消耗 is more general and scientific.

为了研发这个芯片，科学家们耗费了十年的时间。
(To develop this chip, scientists spent ten years of effort.)

消耗 (xiāohào) vs. 损耗 (sǔnhào): 损耗 focuses on the 'loss' or 'damage' that occurs during a process. It is often used for physical goods that are lost during transport or machinery that wears down. 消耗 is the active using up of the resource to achieve a goal.

粮食在运输过程中会有一定的自然损耗。
(Grain will have some natural loss during transportation.)

消耗 (xiāohào) vs. 消费 (xiāofèi): 消费 is strictly for the economic act of purchasing and using goods/services. You are a '消费者' (consumer) when you buy a phone. The phone '消耗' (consumes) battery power when you use it.

鼓励居民消费可以刺激经济增长。
(Encouraging residents to spend/consume can stimulate economic growth.)

消耗 (xiāohào) vs. 浪费 (làngfèi): 浪费 is a value judgment. It means using something in a way that is not useful or efficient. 消耗 is the objective description of using something. You 消耗 oxygen just by breathing, but you 浪费 water if you leave the tap running.

减少不必要的消耗，就是一种节约。
(Reducing unnecessary consumption is a form of saving.)

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Resultative Complements (e.g., 消耗掉, 消耗完)

Degree Adverbs (e.g., 极度消耗, 略微消耗)

Nominalization of Verbs in Chinese

Examples by Level

运动会消耗能量。

Exercise consumes energy.

Simple Subject + Verb + Object structure.

这台电脑消耗很多电。

This computer consumes a lot of electricity.

Using '很多' to quantify the consumption.

跑步消耗体力。

Running consumes physical strength.

Common collocation: 消耗 + 体力.

我们要减少消耗。

We need to reduce consumption.

Used as a noun here.

灯开着会消耗电。

Leaving the light on will consume electricity.

Using '会' to indicate a result.

这个游戏很消耗时间。

This game consumes a lot of time.

Adverb '很' modifying the verb phrase.

多喝水，消耗少。

Drink more water, consume less (of other things).

Simplified conversational structure.

汽车消耗汽油。

Cars consume gasoline.

Basic fact statement.

这种运动每小时消耗五百卡路里。

This exercise consumes five hundred calories per hour.

Specific measurement of consumption.

为了省钱，我们要降低能源消耗。

To save money, we need to lower energy consumption.

Using '降低' (lower) with '消耗'.

长时间工作会消耗你的精力。

Working for a long time will consume your energy.

Abstract object: 精力 (energy/spirit).

这台旧机器消耗太大了。

This old machine's consumption is too high.

Used as a noun with '太大了'.

我们需要补充消耗的水分。

We need to replenish the consumed moisture.

Used as an adjective modifying '水分'.

洗热水澡很消耗热水。

Taking a hot bath consumes a lot of hot water.

Everyday context.

别在小事上消耗时间。

Don't consume/waste time on small things.

Imperative sentence.

植物在阳光下消耗二氧化碳。

Plants consume carbon dioxide in sunlight.

Scientific fact at A2 level.

这种新材料可以减少热量的消耗。

This new material can reduce the consumption of heat.

Noun phrase: 热量的消耗.

他因为生病，身体消耗很大。

Because he was sick, his body's depletion was significant.

Describing physical state.

过度消耗资源会导致环境问题。

Excessive consumption of resources will lead to environmental problems.

Subject is a verb-object phrase.

我们需要计算项目的总消耗。

We need to calculate the total consumption of the project.

Used as a formal noun.

这种电器处于待机状态时也会消耗电能。

This appliance also consumes electrical energy when in standby mode.

Formal term: 电能 (electrical energy).

长途跋涉消耗了他们最后的体力。

The long trek consumed their last bit of physical strength.

Verb with a specific result.

政府呼吁市民减少塑料消耗。

The government calls on citizens to reduce plastic consumption.

Formal social context.

这种工作方式太消耗人了。

This way of working is too draining on people.

Colloquial use: 消耗 + 人 (draining someone).

为了赢得比赛，他采取了消耗战术。

To win the match, he adopted an attrition tactic.

Specific term: 消耗战术 (attrition tactics).

森林火灾消耗了大量的氧气。

The forest fire consumed a large amount of oxygen.

Scientific description.

这种老式引擎的燃油消耗率很高。

This old engine has a high fuel consumption rate.

Compound noun: 燃油消耗率.

精神内耗比体力劳动更让人疲惫。

Internal mental friction is more exhausting than physical labor.

Modern term: 内耗 (internal friction).

该地区的地下水已被消耗殆尽。

The groundwater in this area has been completely consumed.

Idiomatic result: 消耗殆尽.

我们需要评估该政策对财政的消耗。

We need to assess the drain of this policy on the finances.

Abstract financial context.

这种化学反应会消耗大量的催化剂。

This chemical reaction consumes a large amount of catalyst.

Technical academic context.

长期的冷战消耗了双方的国力。

The long Cold War depleted the national strength of both sides.

Political/Historical context.

通过优化算法，我们显著降低了服务器的资源消耗。

By optimizing the algorithm, we significantly reduced the server's resource consumption.

Technical professional context.

这种病理性消耗导致患者体重迅速下降。

This pathological wasting caused the patient's weight to drop rapidly.

Medical term: 病理性消耗.

在现代社会，注意力的消耗已成为一个重要课题。

In modern society, the consumption of attention has become an important topic.

Abstract sociological context.

该项目的失败主要归咎于前期过度的资金消耗。

The failure of the project was mainly attributed to excessive early-stage capital consumption.

Formal business analysis.

这种建筑设计旨在最大限度地减少能量消耗。

This architectural design aims to minimize energy consumption to the greatest extent.

Formal design context.

由于缺乏补充，库存正在被缓慢消耗。

Due to a lack of replenishment, the inventory is being slowly consumed.

Passive-style description.

这场无休止的争论只会消耗彼此的信任。

This endless argument will only deplete each other's trust.

Metaphorical use for relationships.

生态足迹反映了人类对自然资源的消耗速度。

The ecological footprint reflects the rate of human consumption of natural resources.

Academic environmental science.

熵增定律揭示了封闭系统中能量消耗的必然性。

The law of increasing entropy reveals the inevitability of energy dissipation in a closed system.

High-level scientific context.

这种策略旨在通过长期的消耗战瓦解敌方的意志。

This strategy aims to disintegrate the enemy's will through a long-term war of attrition.

Military strategic terminology.

在全球化背景下，资源的跨国消耗呈现出复杂的态势。

In the context of globalization, the transnational consumption of resources presents a complex situation.

Complex socio-economic phrasing.

文学创作往往是对作者生命力的一种深度消耗。

Literary creation is often a deep consumption of the author's vitality.

Philosophical/Literary context.

该技术有效解决了高功率激光器中的热消耗问题。

This technology effectively solves the problem of heat dissipation in high-power lasers.

Advanced engineering context.

资本的无序扩张导致了社会资源的巨大消耗与浪费。

The disorderly expansion of capital has led to a huge consumption and waste of social resources.

Critical socio-political analysis.

在某些极端环境下，人体会进入低消耗的休眠状态。

In certain extreme environments, the human body will enter a low-consumption state of dormancy.

Biological/Sci-fi context.

这种审美风格表现出一种对物质消耗的极度克制。

This aesthetic style demonstrates an extreme restraint toward material consumption.

Artistic/Aesthetic criticism.

Synonyms

消费耗费磨损使用

Antonyms

积累节省补充

Common Collocations

消耗体力

消耗能量

消耗资源

消耗时间

消耗殆尽

长期消耗

巨大的消耗

减少消耗

消耗资金

消耗氧气

Common Phrases

能量消耗

消耗战

精神内耗

资源消耗

热量消耗

低消耗

过度消耗

自然消耗

体力消耗

财政消耗

Often Confused With

消耗 vs 消费 (xiāofèi) - Economic spending

消耗 vs 浪费 (làngfèi) - Wasting

消耗 vs 损耗 (sǔnhào) - Technical loss/wear

Idioms & Expressions

"消耗殆尽 (xiāohào dàijìn) - To be completely consumed."

"劳民伤财 (láomín shāngcái) - To waste manpower and money (related to 消耗)."

"坐吃山空 (zuòchī shānkōng) - To consume wealth without producing (related to 消耗)."

"精疲力竭 (jīngpí lìjié) - Exhausted (the result of 消耗)."

"油干灯尽 (yóugān dēngjìn) - Oil dry, lamp out (metaphor for total 消耗)."

"日削月朘 (rìxuē yuèjuān) - Daily and monthly depletion."

"开源节流 (kāiyuán jiéliú) - Increase income and reduce consumption/expenditure."

"罢兵息战 (bàbīng xīzhàn) - To stop the consumption of war."

"弹尽粮绝 (dànjìn liángjué) - Out of ammo and food (extreme 消耗)."

"磨损折旧 (mósǔn zhéjiù) - Wear and tear (technical 消耗)."

Easily Confused

消耗 vs

Sentence Patterns

How to Use It

Time

More formal than '花' (huā).

Energy

Standard for calories and electricity.

Abstract

Used for patience, trust, and willpower.

Resources

Used for both renewable and non-renewable resources.

Common Mistakes

→ 我花了很多钱买衣服。/ 我消费了很多钱买衣服。
消耗 is not used for simple shopping; use 花 or 消费.
→ 他吃了一个汉堡。
You eat food (吃); you consume the calories (消耗热量) inside it.
→ 我很累。/ 这件事很消耗我。
消耗 is not an adjective for feeling tired. It's a verb for the process.
→ 不要浪费水。
If you want to tell someone not to be wasteful, use 浪费.
→ 这台机器的损耗很大。
For wear and tear on a machine, 损耗 is more precise.

Tips

Pair with Resources

Always remember that 消耗 loves to be paired with words like 能量 (energy), 体力 (strength), and 资源 (resources).

Noun vs. Verb

Pay attention to the context. If it's after an adjective like '巨大的', it's a noun. If it's before an object like '热量', it's a verb.

Modern Buzzword

Learn '内耗' (nèihào). It's a very popular word in Chinese social media right now to describe burnout and overthinking.

Academic Tone

Use 消耗 in your HSK or academic essays to describe environmental impact or efficiency to sound more professional.

Fitness Context

When you go to the gym in China, look for the word 消耗 on the treadmill screens—it will show your calorie burn.

News Keywords

In economic news, '消耗' often appears near '增长' (growth) or '下降' (decrease) regarding raw materials.

Don't Waste

Remember: 消耗 is 'using,' 浪费 is 'wasting.' Don't use 消耗 if you want to criticize someone for being wasteful.

The Melting Candle

Visualize a candle. The '消' is the wax melting away, and '耗' is the time and material spent to give light.

Efficiency

In engineering, 消耗 is often used with '效率' (efficiency). High consumption usually means low efficiency.

Medical Usage

In medical contexts, it describes the body 'wasting away' due to chronic illness.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Xiao (消) sounds like 'shower' (washing away), Hao (耗) sounds like 'how' (how much is left?). Together: Washing away resources until they are gone.

Word Origin

Cultural Context

Used to describe the 'War of Resistance' as a long-term '消耗战' against invaders.

Often used to criticize '996' culture as a '消耗' of young people's health.

Used in slogans for 'Green Life' (绿色生活) to encourage low consumption.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"你觉得哪种运动最消耗热量？"

"我们公司应该如何减少纸张消耗？"

"你最近有没有感觉到精神内耗？"

"这种新车的油耗（石油消耗）高吗？"

"如何才能在工作中减少精力的无谓消耗？"

Journal Prompts

记录你今天消耗体力最多的三件事。

谈谈你对‘精神内耗’的理解以及如何应对它。

如果我们要保护环境，我们应该首先减少哪些资源的消耗？

描述一次让你感到‘消耗殆尽’的经历。

分析你手机上最消耗电量的三个应用。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, no. Use '吃' (chī) or '食用' (shíyòng) for the act of eating. 消耗 is used for the energy (calories) the body gets from the food after eating it.

消耗 is neutral; it just means using something up. 浪费 is negative; it means using something up in a way that is not helpful or efficient.

It is more formal than '用' (yòng), but it is very common in both daily life (fitness, energy bills) and formal writing (economics, science).

No. You should say '我体力消耗很大' (My physical strength consumption was great) or simply '我很累' (I am tired).

It literally means 'internal consumption.' It refers to internal friction within a group or psychological stress within an individual that wastes energy without producing results.

You can say '油耗' (yóuhào) or more formally '燃油消耗' (rányóu xiāohào).

Yes, but it usually implies a steady drain on funds (like maintenance costs) rather than a single purchase. For purchases, use '消费'.

Yes, it is the standard term for energy dissipation or the use of energy in a system.

Yes, '消耗时间' is common, especially when the time is being used up by a long or tedious process.

It means a 'war of attrition,' where the goal is to wear down the enemy's resources and manpower over a long period.