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B1 verb #3,800 most common 9 min read

耗尽

hao jin Top 3,800

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 耗尽 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 耗尽 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '耗尽' (hào jìn) often, as it is quite a difficult word. However, you can think of it as a very strong way to say 'no more' or 'finished.' In A1, you usually learn '没有了' (méiyǒu le - there isn't any more) or '用完了' (yòng wán le - used up). '耗尽' is like saying 'completely, 100% gone' for things like energy or money. Imagine your phone battery goes from 100% to 0%. That process of using all the electricity is '耗尽.' It is made of two parts: '耗' (spending) and '尽' (the end). Even though it's a big word, you might hear it in cartoons or simple stories when a character has no more power to fight. Just remember: it's for when something is totally empty.

At the A2 level, you are starting to learn more specific verbs. While '用完' (yòng wán) is your go-to word for finishing your milk or using your last piece of paper, '耗尽' (hào jìn) is used for more 'serious' things. You might use it to describe being very, very tired after a long day of school or work. Instead of just '我累了' (I'm tired), you could say '我的体力耗尽了' (My physical strength is exhausted). This sounds more descriptive. You might also see it in simple news titles about 'money' (钱) or 'oil' (石油). The grammar is simple: [Thing] + 耗尽了. For example: '电池耗尽了' (The battery is exhausted). It helps you express that something is not just finished, but completely drained.

At the B1 level, '耗尽' (hào jìn) becomes a very useful word for your vocabulary. This is the level where you start discussing topics like the environment, health, and social issues. In these contexts, '耗尽' is the standard word for 'deplete' or 'exhaust.' You will use it to talk about natural resources (资源) being used up by people. It is also very common in discussions about 'stress.' If you are talking about a difficult exam or a busy job, you can say it '耗尽了我的耐心' (exhausted my patience). Notice that at this level, you should start using the 'Subject + 耗尽 + Object' structure. It is a formal word, so using it in your writing or speaking will make you sound more like a native speaker and less like a beginner who only uses basic verbs like '用' (use).

At the B2 level, you should be able to distinguish '耗尽' (hào jìn) from its synonyms like '消耗' (xiāohào) and '枯竭' (kūjié). You will encounter '耗尽' in more complex reading materials, such as editorials, academic articles, and literature. You should understand its nuance of 'total depletion.' For example, in a business context, you might read about a company that '耗尽了现金流' (exhausted its cash flow). In a psychological context, you might study 'burnout,' which is often described as '精力耗尽.' You should also be comfortable using it in passive sentences with '被' (bèi), such as '森林资源被耗尽了' (Forest resources have been exhausted). This level requires you to use the word accurately in both concrete (resources) and abstract (emotions, time) situations.

At the C1 level, you are expected to use '耗尽' (hào jìn) with precision in professional and academic settings. You should be aware of its collocations with high-level vocabulary, such as '耗尽心血' (to put all one's heart and soul into something) or '耗尽毕生精力' (to spend one's entire life's energy). You will see this word used in sophisticated metaphors in literature to describe the decline of an era or the end of a long-standing tradition. At this level, you should also understand the word's role in scientific and economic discourse, where it describes systemic failures or the reaching of 'tipping points.' Your ability to use '耗尽' to describe the nuance of 'irreversible depletion' will demonstrate a deep grasp of Chinese semantics and register.

At the C2 level, '耗尽' (hào jìn) is a tool for nuanced expression in high-level discourse. You can use it to discuss existential themes, complex economic theories, or intricate psychological states. You might use it in a debate about sustainable development, arguing that '耗尽式增长' (exhaustion-style growth) is unsustainable. You will recognize it in classical-style modern prose where it might be paired with other literary terms to create a specific rhythmic or emotional effect. At this mastery level, you understand not just the meaning, but the 'weight' the word carries—the sense of finality, the tragedy of loss, and the stark reality of limits. You can use it to craft compelling narratives or persuasive arguments that resonate with native speakers at a deep intellectual level.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

耗尽 in 30 Seconds

耗尽 means to completely use up a resource, energy, or money until nothing is left.
It is a formal word often used in science, business, and describing extreme exhaustion.
The character '耗' means consume, and '尽' means the end or finished.
Commonly used with resources like oil, water, and human traits like patience or energy.

The Chinese verb 耗尽 (hào jìn) is a powerful compound word that describes the total depletion of a resource, whether tangible or intangible. It is composed of two characters: 耗 (hào), which means to consume, waste, or spend, and 尽 (jìn), which means to the end, finished, or exhausted. Together, they form a resultative verb construction that emphasizes not just the act of using something, but the final state where absolutely nothing remains. This word is essential for intermediate learners because it bridges the gap between basic physical descriptions and complex academic or emotional discussions. In the context of environmental science, particularly for exams like the TOEFL or HSK 5/6, you will frequently encounter this term when discussing natural resources like oil, water, or biodiversity. It conveys a sense of finality and often carries a warning or a tone of exhaustion.

Physical Resources: Used when talking about supplies that have been completely used up, such as fuel in a tank, money in a bank account, or the battery life of a device. For example, if a car stops because it has no gas, you have '耗尽' your fuel.
Mental and Physical Energy: In psychology and daily life, it describes the state of 'burnout.' When a person works too hard without rest, their mental energy and patience are '耗尽.' It is more intense than just being tired; it implies there is nothing left to give.
Abstract Concepts: It can be applied to time, opportunities, or even love. If a person feels they have tried every possible way to solve a problem and failed, they might say they have '耗尽' all their options.

由于长期的干旱，这个湖泊的水位已经完全耗尽了。(Due to the long-term drought, the water level of this lake has been completely exhausted.)

Culturally, the term reflects a modern concern with sustainability and mental health in Chinese-speaking societies. In fast-paced cities like Shanghai or Beijing, the term is often linked to the '996' work culture (working 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week), where employees feel their vitality is being '耗尽' by relentless corporate demands. It is also a key term in scientific discourse regarding the 'Earth Overshoot Day,' the point in the year when humanity has '耗尽' the resources the planet can regenerate in that year. Understanding this word allows you to participate in serious conversations about the future of the planet and personal well-being.

这场马拉松比赛耗尽了他最后一丝体力。(This marathon race exhausted his last bit of physical strength.)

Environmental Context: Natural resources like coal and oil are finite; once they are 耗尽, they are gone for good in human timescales.

Using 耗尽 correctly requires understanding its role as a transitive verb that often takes a direct object, but can also appear in passive constructions. Because it is a resultative verb, it is very frequently followed by the particle 了 (le) to indicate that the state of depletion has been reached. It is not a word used for minor usage; you wouldn't say you '耗尽' your coffee if you just finished a cup. Instead, it implies a significant or total loss.

Subject + 耗尽 + Object: This is the most common pattern. Subject (the cause or the person) + 耗尽 + Object (the resource). Example: '战争耗尽了国家的财富' (The war exhausted the nation's wealth).
Passive with '被' (bèi): Used to emphasize the resource that is gone. Example: '地球的资源正在被人类耗尽' (The Earth's resources are being exhausted by humans).

为了买这套房子，他耗尽了毕生的积蓄。(To buy this house, he exhausted his lifelong savings.)

When using 耗尽 for emotions or mental states, it often pairs with words like 心血 (xīnxuè - painstaking effort), 耐心 (nàixīn - patience), or 精力 (jīnglì - energy). This usage highlights the 'cost' of an action. For instance, a teacher might say they have '耗尽心血' to educate their students, emphasizing the deep emotional and physical investment involved. It is a very dramatic word, so use it when you want to convey that something was a struggle or that the end result left someone empty.

你的无理取闹已经耗尽了我所有的耐心。(Your making trouble out of nothing has exhausted all my patience.)

In technical or business Chinese, you might see 耗尽 used in reports regarding stock levels or capital. If a company's cash flow is '耗尽,' it means they are on the brink of bankruptcy. This level of intensity is what separates '耗尽' from synonyms like '消耗' (to consume) which describes the process without necessarily implying the end.

The word 耗尽 is ubiquitous in specific domains of Chinese life and media. Understanding these contexts will help you recognize the 'vibe' of the word. It isn't usually something you'd say when casually chatting about finishing a bag of chips; it's more likely to appear in a serious news broadcast, a documentary, or a deep conversation about life struggles.

News and Documentaries: Whenever the topic is the energy crisis or climate change, you will hear '耗尽资源' (depleting resources). Narrators use it to create a sense of urgency about the environment. If you watch CCTV news or documentaries like 'Under the Dome' (穹顶之下), this word is a staple.
The Workplace and Burnout: In modern Chinese social media (like Weibo or Xiaohongshu), people talk about being '耗尽精力' (exhausting energy). It’s a key part of the vocabulary for discussing 'Involution' (内卷 - nèijuǎn), the phenomenon of hyper-competition where people feel they are working harder just to stay in the same place, eventually leading to being '耗尽.'

如果我们不节约用水，地下水很快就会被耗尽。(If we don't conserve water, the groundwater will soon be exhausted.)

Another common place is in historical dramas or literature. When a character has fought a long battle or spent years on a single goal, the author might say they '耗尽了最后一口气' (exhausted their last breath) or '耗尽了毕生精力' (spent their whole life's energy). It adds a tragic or heroic weight to the narrative. In video games, if your 'mana' or 'stamina' bar reaches zero, the system might display a message saying your energy is '耗尽.' This helps learners see the word in a digital, interactive context.

这个项目耗尽了公司的所有现金流。(This project exhausted all of the company's cash flow.)

Finally, in academic writing—especially in fields like ecology, economics, and psychology—耗尽 is the standard term for depletion. If you are preparing for the HSK 6 or writing a thesis in Chinese, you must use 耗尽 instead of more colloquial terms to maintain the appropriate formal register.

Even for intermediate learners, 耗尽 can be tricky because it overlaps with several other words that mean 'to use up' or 'to consume.' The most common mistake is using it in a context that is too casual or for something that isn't truly 'exhausted' to the point of being empty.

Mistake 1: Confusing 耗尽 with 用完 (yòng wán): '用完' is the general term for 'finished using.' You '用完' your shampoo or '用完' a piece of paper. '耗尽' is much more intense. You wouldn't say you '耗尽' your shampoo unless it was a very precious, irreplaceable shampoo and its loss was a tragedy. Use '用完' for daily items and '耗尽' for resources, energy, or life's work.
Mistake 2: Confusing 耗尽 with 消耗 (xiāohào): '消耗' focuses on the *process* of consumption. '运动可以消耗热量' (Exercise can consume/burn calories). It doesn't mean all calories are gone. '耗尽' focuses on the *result*—that nothing is left. If you '耗尽' calories, you might be in medical trouble!

错误: 我耗尽了我的午饭。(Wrong: I exhausted my lunch.)
正确: 我吃完了我的午饭。(Correct: I finished my lunch.)

Another error is forgetting the '尽' (jìn) part. Some learners just use '耗' (hào), which can mean 'to spend time' or 'to stall.' For example, '耗时间' (hào shíjiān) means to waste time or dawdle. If you want to say the time is completely gone, you must use '耗尽时间.' The '尽' is what provides the 'total depletion' meaning.

Finally, watch out for the object. 耗尽 usually takes objects that are measurable or quantifiable in some way (even if abstractly), like energy, money, resources, or patience. It is rarely used with physical objects that are countable and individual, like 'books' or 'people,' unless you are speaking metaphorically about their collective utility.

To truly master 耗尽, you need to see where it sits in the family of 'using things up' words. Chinese is rich with synonyms that vary by register and specific context.

枯竭 (kūjié): Literally 'to dry up.' This is specifically used for liquids (like a river) or abstract creative sources (like inspiration). You would say '灵感枯竭' (inspiration has dried up), whereas '耗尽' is more about the act of using it all up.
罄尽 (qìngjìn): A very formal, literary term meaning 'to empty out.' You might see this in historical novels or extremely formal speeches. It is much rarer than 耗尽.
用罄 (yòngqìng): Often seen in business or logistics, meaning 'sold out' or 'completely used.' If a store's stock is '用罄,' they have no more to sell.

比较:
1. 资源耗尽 (Resources used up - general/scientific)
2. 财源枯竭 (Financial sources dried up - metaphorical)
3. 告罄 (Sold out/exhausted - commercial)

When choosing between 耗尽 and its alternatives, consider the 'source.' If it's a flow that stopped, use 枯竭. If it's a pile of something that was used, use 耗尽. If it's a transaction, use 用完 or 告罄. This nuance is what makes your Chinese sound natural and sophisticated.

In summary, 耗尽 is your 'workhorse' word for serious depletion. It is formal enough for an essay but common enough for a serious conversation about life or the environment. Mastering it will significantly improve your ability to express limits and consequences in Chinese.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character 尽 in its traditional form (盡) shows a brush cleaning a dish, which perfectly visualizes the idea of 'exhausting' the contents.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /haʊ dʒɪn/

US /haʊ dʒɪn/

Both syllables receive equal stress as they are both 4th tone content words.

Rhymes With

报尽 (bào jìn) 耗尽 (hào jìn) 到尽 (dào jìn) 叫尽 (jiào jìn) 闹尽 (nào jìn) 扫尽 (sǎo jìn) 倒尽 (dǎo jìn) 老尽 (lǎo jìn)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'jìn' as 'jīn' (1st tone), which changes the meaning from 'exhausted' to 'gold' or 'near'.
Pronouncing 'hào' as 'hǎo' (3rd tone), which means 'good'.
Confusing 'jìn' with 'jìng' (adding a nasal 'g' sound).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Recognizing the characters is intermediate, but context usually helps.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of the complex character '耗' and proper collocations.

Speaking 3/5

Easy to pronounce but requires correct tones (4-4).

Listening 3/5

Common in news and serious media.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

用 (use) 完 (finish) 累 (tired) 水 (water) 钱 (money)

Learn Next

枯竭 (dry up) 消耗 (consume) 资源 (resources) 精力 (energy) 积累 (accumulate)

Advanced

殚精竭虑山穷水尽承载力不可再生

Grammar to Know

Resultative Complements

Verb + 尽 (jìn) indicates the action has reached its absolute limit.

Passive '被' (bèi) construction

资源被耗尽了。

Double 4th Tone

Hào jìn - both falling tones require sharp emphasis.

Transitive vs Intransitive

Can be used with an object (耗尽精力) or without if the subject is the resource (电量耗尽了).

Abstract vs Concrete usage

Applies to both physical fuel and mental patience.

Examples by Level

我的手机没电了，电量耗尽了。

My phone has no power, the battery is exhausted.

Used as a resultative verb with '了'.

他跑了很久，力气耗尽了。

He ran for a long time, his strength is exhausted.

Simple Subject + Verb + le structure.

水杯里的水耗尽了。

The water in the cup is exhausted (gone).

Used for physical substances.

钱耗尽了，我不能买东西。

The money is exhausted, I cannot buy things.

Focuses on the state of being empty.

时间耗尽了，请交卷。

Time is exhausted, please hand in your papers.

Used for time limits.

火把的燃料耗尽了。

The torch's fuel is exhausted.

Specific to fuel/energy sources.

我们的食物耗尽了。

Our food is exhausted.

Describes a supply running out.

他的耐心耗尽了。

His patience is exhausted.

Introduction to abstract usage.

经过一天的劳动，他的体力完全耗尽了。

After a day of labor, his physical strength was completely exhausted.

Adding '完全' (completely) to emphasize.

由于没有下雨，水库的水耗尽了。

Because there was no rain, the reservoir's water was exhausted.

Cause and effect structure.

他为了旅行耗尽了所有的零用钱。

He exhausted all his pocket money for the trip.

Verb + 了 + Object.

这台机器的能量已经耗尽了。

This machine's energy has already been exhausted.

Using '已经' (already) with '了'.

你的借口已经耗尽了我的信任。

Your excuses have already exhausted my trust.

Abstract object: trust.

我们要节约，不要耗尽资源。

We should save, don't exhaust resources.

Imperative usage: '不要' (don't).

这支笔的墨水耗尽了。

This pen's ink is exhausted.

Physical depletion.

他耗尽了最后一点力气爬上了山顶。

He exhausted his last bit of strength to climb to the top.

Used to describe effort.

地球上的化石燃料终将被耗尽。

The fossil fuels on Earth will eventually be exhausted.

Passive voice with '被'.

长期的加班耗尽了员工们的热情。

Long-term overtime exhausted the employees' enthusiasm.

Subject (Action) + Verb + Object.

他耗尽心血写成了这本书。

He put all his heart and soul (exhausted heart-blood) into writing this book.

Idiomatic collocation '耗尽心血'.

如果不控制开支，资金很快就会耗尽。

If expenses are not controlled, the funds will soon be exhausted.

Conditional sentence.

这场无休止的争吵耗尽了他们的感情。

This endless quarreling exhausted their feelings.

Abstract emotional depletion.

由于过度捕捞，该海域的鱼类资源几乎耗尽。

Due to overfishing, the fish resources in this sea area are almost exhausted.

Environmental context.

他已经耗尽了所有的法律手段。

He has already exhausted all legal means.

Used for 'means' or 'options'.

这种生活方式正在耗尽他的健康。

This lifestyle is exhausting his health.

Progressive aspect with '正在'.

该国的自然资源已接近耗尽的边缘。

The country's natural resources are near the brink of exhaustion.

Noun phrase '耗尽的边缘' (brink of exhaustion).

这种新型病毒耗尽了患者的免疫系统。

This new virus exhausted the patient's immune system.

Medical/Biological context.

他为了这项发明耗尽了毕生的积蓄。

He exhausted his lifelong savings for this invention.

Collocation '毕生积蓄' (lifelong savings).

持续的通货膨胀耗尽了民众的购买力。

Persistent inflation has exhausted the public's purchasing power.

Economic context.

我们要防止这种‘耗尽式’的开发模式。

We must prevent this 'exhaustion-style' development model.

Used as an adjective with '式'.

他那令人失望的表现耗尽了教练对他最后的信心。

His disappointing performance exhausted the coach's last bit of confidence in him.

Complex abstract object.

这笔巨额赔偿款几乎耗尽了该公司的利润。

This huge compensation payment almost exhausted the company's profits.

Business/Legal context.

长途跋涉耗尽了他们的补给品。

The long trek exhausted their supplies.

Logistical context.

这种掠夺性的经济政策正在耗尽国家的未来。

This predatory economic policy is exhausting the nation's future.

Metaphorical usage for 'future'.

他为艺术事业耗尽了毕生精力，死而无憾。

He exhausted his lifelong energy for his art career and died with no regrets.

High-level literary collocation.

该地区的地下水层因过度抽取而面临耗尽的危险。

The region's aquifers face the danger of exhaustion due to over-extraction.

Formal scientific report style.

这场旷日持久的诉讼耗尽了双方的财力和精力。

This protracted litigation exhausted the financial and mental resources of both parties.

Formal legal/social context.

他的才华似乎已经耗尽，再也写不出好作品了。

His talent seems to have been exhausted; he can no longer write good works.

Subjective assessment of talent.

这种文化在现代化的冲击下，生命力已逐渐耗尽。

Under the impact of modernization, the vitality of this culture has gradually been exhausted.

Sociological context.

政府的储备金在应对危机中被耗尽了。

The government's reserve funds were exhausted in responding to the crisis.

Macroeconomic context.

他在辩论中耗尽了所有的论据，最终陷入沉默。

He exhausted all his arguments in the debate and finally fell into silence.

Used for 'arguments' or 'reasons'.

这种不可持续的消费模式终将耗尽地球的承载力。

This unsustainable consumption pattern will eventually exhaust the Earth's carrying capacity.

Academic term '承载力' (carrying capacity).

作者在晚年似乎耗尽了对人类文明的最后一丝希望。

In his later years, the author seemed to have exhausted his last shred of hope for human civilization.

Deeply philosophical/literary usage.

该项技术的潜力已被耗尽，亟需颠覆性的创新。

The potential of this technology has been exhausted, and disruptive innovation is urgently needed.

Technological and strategic context.

他在权力斗争中耗尽了所有的政治资本。

He exhausted all his political capital in the power struggle.

Metaphorical 'political capital'.

这种极简主义风格旨在剔除所有耗尽感官的冗余。

This minimalist style aims to eliminate all redundancies that exhaust the senses.

Abstract aesthetic usage.

随着石油资源的耗尽，全球能源版图将发生剧变。

With the exhaustion of oil resources, the global energy landscape will undergo a drastic change.

Geopolitical context.

他的一生都在为理想奔波，直到生命力完全耗尽。

He spent his whole life striving for his ideals until his vitality was completely exhausted.

Existential description.

这场金融风暴耗尽了中产阶级数十年的财富积累。

This financial storm exhausted decades of wealth accumulation for the middle class.

Economic history context.

Synonyms

用尽枯竭消耗穷尽

Antonyms

积累储备剩余

Common Collocations

耗尽资源

耗尽精力

耗尽心血

耗尽家产

耗尽耐心

耗尽体力

耗尽储备

耗尽氧气

耗尽燃料

耗尽积蓄

Common Phrases

资源耗尽

— The state where natural or economic resources are completely gone.

全球正面临资源耗尽的危机。

精力耗尽

— A state of total physical or mental exhaustion; burnout.

他在项目结束后感到精力耗尽。

耐心耗尽

— Running out of the ability to wait or tolerate something.

我的耐心已经快要耗尽了。

耗尽最后一滴血

— To fight or work until the very end; to sacrifice everything.

士兵们誓言为祖国耗尽最后一滴血。

心力耗尽

— Exhaustion of both mental and physical efforts.

照顾病人让他感到心力耗尽。

财力耗尽

— Running out of financial means or wealth.

长期的战争让国家财力耗尽。

耗尽生命

— To spend one's entire life on something until death.

他为科研事业耗尽了生命。

氧气耗尽

— Running out of oxygen, often used in space or underwater contexts.

潜水员的氧气快要耗尽了。

耗尽潜能

— To use up all available possibilities or potential.

这台旧机器的潜能已经耗尽了。

耗尽才华

— The state where an artist or writer has no more creative ideas.

很多人担心他已经耗尽了才华。

Often Confused With

耗尽 vs 消耗 (xiāohào)

Focuses on the process of using something up, whereas 耗尽 focuses on the empty result.

耗尽 vs 用完 (yòng wán)

A general term for finishing something, lacks the intensity and formality of 耗尽.

耗尽 vs 枯竭 (kūjié)

Mainly used for liquids or creative sources 'drying up'.

Idioms & Expressions

"筋疲力尽"

— Extremely tired; physically exhausted (lit: muscles tired, strength finished).

爬完山后，我感到筋疲力尽。

Common

"油干灯尽"

— The oil is dry and the lamp is out; nearing death or total depletion.

老人已经到了油干灯尽的地步。

Literary

"竭尽全力"

— To use all of one's strength; to do one's utmost.

我会竭尽全力完成任务。

Neutral

"费尽心机"

— To rack one's brains; to use every possible scheme.

他费尽心机想得到那个职位。

Neutral/Negative

"用尽手段"

— To use every possible method (often unscrupulous).

为了赢，他用尽了手段。

Negative

"精疲力竭"

— Synonym for 筋疲力尽; totally exhausted.

长途旅行让他精疲力竭。

Formal

"取之不尽"

— Inexhaustible; can be taken without end (opposite of 耗尽).

太阳能是取之不尽的能源。

Literary

"山穷水尽"

— At the end of one's resources; in a desperate situation.

公司已经到了山穷水尽的地步。

Literary

"用之不竭"

— Inexhaustible in use.

大自然的美是用之不竭的。

Literary

"殚精竭虑"

— To exhaust one's thoughts and energy on something.

他为这个计划殚精竭虑。

Formal

Easily Confused

耗尽 vs 耗费

Both start with '耗'.

耗费 means to spend or consume (often time or money) but doesn't necessarily mean it is all gone.

这项工程耗费了大量资金。

耗尽 vs 尽力

Both contain '尽'.

尽力 means to try one's best, while 耗尽 means to use up a resource completely.

我会尽力的。

耗尽 vs 灭绝

Both imply something being gone.

灭绝 is for species becoming extinct; 耗尽 is for resources being used up.

恐龙已经灭绝了。

耗尽 vs 磨损

Both involve things being used.

磨损 is physical wear and tear on a surface; 耗尽 is total depletion of a supply.

轮胎磨损严重。

耗尽 vs 消灭

Both mean something disappears.

消灭 means to eliminate or destroy (like enemies or germs); 耗尽 means to use up a supply.

消灭细菌。

Sentence Patterns

[Resource] + 耗尽了。

电量耗尽了。

我 + 耗尽了 + [Noun]。

我耗尽了力气。

[Action] + 耗尽了 + [Abstract Noun]。

加班耗尽了我的耐心。

[Resource] + 正在被 + [Agent] + 耗尽。

森林正在被人类耗尽。

耗尽 + 毕生 + [Noun]。

他耗尽毕生精力研究这个项目。

面临 + [Noun] + 耗尽的 + 危险。

面临资源耗尽的危险。

几乎 + 耗尽了 + 所有的 + [Noun]。

几乎耗尽了所有的积蓄。

由于...而 + 耗尽。

由于过度开发而耗尽。

Word Family

Nouns

耗费 (hàofèi - consumption/cost)

损耗 (sǔnhào - wear and tear/loss)

Verbs

消耗 (xiāohào - to consume)

尽力 (jìnlì - to try one's best)

Adjectives

尽头 (jìntóu - end/limit)

耗时 (hàoshí - time-consuming)

枯竭

用完

浪费

节省

储备

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in academic, news, and serious literature.

Common Mistakes

我耗尽了我的水。 → 我喝完了我的水。
You don't 'exhaust' a single glass of water; you just finish it. 耗尽 is for large supplies or abstract resources.
他耗尽力气地跑。 → 他筋疲力尽地跑。
耗尽 is a verb, not usually an adverb. Use the idiom '筋疲力尽' to describe *how* someone does something while exhausted.
钱被他耗完了。 → 钱被他耗尽了。
'耗完' is understandable but '耗尽' is the standard compound. '用完' or '花光' are better casual alternatives.
资源在耗尽中。 → 资源正在被耗尽。
In Chinese, the passive '正在被...' is more common for ongoing depletion of resources.
他的灵感耗尽了。 → 他的灵感枯竭了。
While '耗尽' is okay, '枯竭' is the specific, more professional term for inspiration or water sources drying up.

Tips

Always use '了'

Since 耗尽 describes a result, it almost always needs '了' to show the state has been reached. '资源耗尽了' sounds much more natural than just '资源耗尽'.

Patience is a resource

In Chinese, patience (耐心) is often treated like fuel. When someone is very annoying, say '你耗尽了我的耐心' to sound like a native speaker.

TOEFL/HSK Tip

If you see a passage about oil, coal, or the environment, '耗尽' is almost certainly going to be the key verb used for 'depletion'.

The 4-4 Tone Trap

Both characters are 4th tone. Make sure you drop your voice sharply on both. If you say 'hǎo jìn', people might think you are saying 'very near'.

Use with '毕生'

To sound very eloquent, pair it with '毕生' (lifelong). '他耗尽毕生精力...' is a classic way to start a biography.

Environmentalism

When discussing green energy, use '耗尽' to describe what happens to fossil fuels, and '取之不尽' to describe solar or wind energy.

Cash Flow

In business Chinese, '现金流耗尽' (cash flow exhausted) is the standard way to say a company has run out of money.

Emotional Drain

Use it metaphorically for relationships. '我们的感情已经耗尽了' is a very heavy way to say a relationship is over.

Look for '尽'

Whenever you see '尽' at the end of a verb, it usually means 'to the maximum' or 'completely'. This helps you guess the meaning of similar words.

News keywords

In news broadcasts, '耗尽' is often preceded by '即将' (about to) or '面临' (facing). Listen for these combinations.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'HOUSE' (sounds like 'hao') that is 'EMPTY' (尽). You've spent everything to buy the house, and now your bank account is 'hào jìn'.

Visual Association

Picture a gas gauge in a car pointing to the red 'E'. The fuel has been 'hào' (spent) until it is 'jìn' (at the end).

Word Web

Resources Energy Money Patience Time Fuel Strength Trust

Challenge

Try to use '耗尽' in a sentence about your phone battery and your patience in the same story.

Word Origin

The word is a modern compound. '耗' (hào) originally referred to a type of grain-consuming pest or the act of a plow consuming the earth. '尽' (jìn) depicts a hand cleaning a vessel, signifying that the contents are gone.

Original meaning: To spend until empty.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese)

Cultural Context

Be careful when using it to describe a person's health; it can imply they are near death.

Translates well to 'exhaust' or 'deplete,' but 'exhaust' is often more personal while 'deplete' is more scientific. 耗尽 covers both.

Environmental documentaries about coal mining in Shanxi. Discussions on the 'exhaustion of the demographic dividend' (人口红利耗尽). Literature describing the fall of the Qing Dynasty.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Environmental Discussion

耗尽自然资源
能源耗尽
不可再生资源耗尽
水资源耗尽

Workplace Burnout

精力耗尽
热情耗尽
心力交瘁
职业倦怠

Personal Finance

耗尽积蓄
财力耗尽
花光所有钱
破产边缘

Sports and Fitness

体力耗尽
能量耗尽
力气用尽
达到极限

Relationships

耐心耗尽
感情耗尽
信任耗尽
无话可说

Conversation Starters

"你觉得地球上的资源什么时候会耗尽？"

"你在什么时候会感到精力耗尽？"

"如果你的手机电量耗尽了，你会感到焦虑吗？"

"你曾经为了一个目标耗尽心血吗？"

"什么样的行为会最快耗尽你的耐心？"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你感到体力耗尽的经历。你当时在做什么？

谈谈你对全球资源耗尽问题的看法，我们应该如何应对？

如果你的耐心被耗尽了，你通常会怎么反应？

写一段关于一个科学家为了发明耗尽毕生积蓄的故事。

反思一下，现代生活是如何耗尽我们的精力的？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No. For food, use '吃完' (chī wán). '耗尽' is for resources like energy, money, or supplies, and it carries a more serious tone.

Mostly, yes. It implies that something valuable is gone. However, '耗尽心血' (spending all one's heart-blood) can be used positively to describe someone's dedication.

消耗 (xiāohào) is the process: 'Exercising consumes (消耗) energy.' 耗尽 (hào jìn) is the result: 'After the marathon, my energy was exhausted (耗尽).'

Yes. '耗尽时间' or '时间耗尽了' means time has run out, usually in a high-pressure situation like an exam or a countdown.

It is always 耗尽. Chinese resultative verbs put the action (耗) before the result (尽).

You can use it for a person's *energy* (精力) or *strength* (体力), but not for the person themselves unless you mean they are dead/exhausted in a literary sense.

Yes, it is more formal than '用完' or '花光'. You will see it in newspapers, textbooks, and formal speeches.

It has '耒' (lěi - plow) on the left and '毛' (máo - hair/feather) on the right. Think of a plow pulling up weeds (consuming them).

It is primarily a verb, but it can describe a state: '处于耗尽状态' (in a state of exhaustion).

Probably '资源耗尽' (depletion of resources) or '精力耗尽' (exhaustion of energy).