心力交瘁
This term describes someone who is completely exhausted in both their mind and body.
Explanation at your level:
You are very, very tired. Your mind is tired and your body is tired. You need to rest a lot.
This word is for when you work too hard. Your brain feels slow and your body feels weak. It is a big feeling of being tired.
Use this when you have been working on something difficult for a long time. It means you have no energy left in your mind or your body. It is a very strong way to say you are burned out.
This idiom describes a state of total depletion. It is often used in professional or academic contexts to describe the result of chronic stress. It implies that both your mental focus and physical stamina have been pushed to their absolute limits.
In advanced usage, this term carries a sense of gravity and emotional weight. It is not merely 'tiredness' but a state of being 'spent.' It is frequently found in literary descriptions of characters who have sacrificed their well-being for a cause or a duty.
This term reflects the classical Chinese understanding of the psychosomatic connection. It suggests that the exhaustion is holistic, affecting the 'heart-mind' (xin) and the physical vessel (li). Mastery of this word involves understanding its nuance: it is not a temporary state but one that often requires significant recovery time, reflecting a deep, existential weariness.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means mentally and physically exhausted.
- Used in formal and serious contexts.
- Stronger than just being 'tired'.
- Requires both mental and physical drain.
心力交瘁 is a powerful four-character idiom that captures the feeling of being completely drained. The first two characters, 心力 (xīn lì), refer to one's mental energy or heart's strength, while 交瘁 (jiāo cuì) describes a state of total exhaustion or withering away.
When you use this term, you are telling someone that you have nothing left to give. It is not just about being sleepy; it is about reaching a point where your brain feels foggy and your body feels heavy due to sustained effort or worry. It is a very common way in Chinese to express burnout in a way that feels both poetic and serious.
This idiom has deep roots in classical Chinese literature. It evolved from the idea of a person's 'spirit' and 'strength' being mutually depleted. Historically, it was often used in historical texts to describe leaders or scholars who had spent years worrying about the fate of their country or perfecting their craft.
The term suggests a symbiotic relationship between the mind and the body. In ancient philosophy, the heart (mind) was considered the ruler of the body. If the ruler is exhausted, the body naturally follows. Over centuries, it became a standard way to describe the human condition under the weight of heavy responsibilities.
You will mostly see this used in formal writing, news reports, or serious conversations. It is not typically used in casual 'hey, I'm tired' moments with friends, as it carries a weight of significant burden.
Common collocations include 感到 (feeling) or 让人 (making one feel). For example, you might say, 'The project left me feeling 心力交瘁.' It is a register that signals to the listener that you have been through a genuine struggle rather than just a busy day.
1. 筋疲力尽 (jīn pí lì jìn): Physically exhausted; like a limp string. 2. 精疲力竭 (jīng pí lì jié): Drained of all energy and spirit. 3. 心力交瘁: The gold standard for mental and physical burnout. 4. 疲惫不堪 (pí bèi bù kān): Unbearably tired. 5. 油尽灯枯 (yóu jìn dēng kū): Like a lamp running out of oil; near death or total collapse.
As a four-character idiom (chengyu), it functions as an adjective or a predicate. It does not have plural forms or articles. The pronunciation follows the standard Mandarin tones: first, fourth, first, and fourth.
Think of the rhythm as a 2-2 beat: xīn-lì, jiāo-cuì. It is often used after the verb 感到 (to feel) or as a description of a person's state after a long period of work.
Fun Fact
It is a perfect example of how Chinese idioms link physical and mental states.
Pronunciation Guide
Mandarin tones are key.
Focus on the fourth tone for 'cuì'.
Common Errors
- Mixing up tones
- Pronouncing 'cuì' as 'cuī'
- Ignoring the rhythm
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Requires knowledge of idioms.
Advanced vocabulary.
Formal usage.
Common in formal speech.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Four-character idioms
心力交瘁
Adjective usage
他很心力交瘁
Verb-Object structure
感到心力交瘁
Examples by Level
我心力交瘁。
I am exhausted.
Simple subject-predicate.
他心力交瘁。
He is exhausted.
Pronoun usage.
我很心力交瘁。
I am very exhausted.
Adverb usage.
不要心力交瘁。
Do not be exhausted.
Negative command.
大家都心力交瘁。
Everyone is exhausted.
Plural subject.
心力交瘁的老师。
The exhausted teacher.
Adjective usage.
心力交瘁的学生。
The exhausted student.
Adjective usage.
感到心力交瘁。
Feeling exhausted.
Verb phrase.
工作让我感到心力交瘁。
考试后我心力交瘁。
他看起来心力交瘁。
长时间工作让人心力交瘁。
照顾孩子让他心力交瘁。
别让自己心力交瘁。
她因为压力而心力交瘁。
我们都感到心力交瘁。
处理这些琐事让我心力交瘁。
长期的项目让他心力交瘁。
她虽然心力交瘁，但还是坚持完成了任务。
面对这种局面，大家都感到心力交瘁。
心力交瘁的母亲在休息。
不要因为一点小事就感到心力交瘁。
他心力交瘁地离开了办公室。
那种心力交瘁的感觉真的很难受。
这场马拉松式的谈判让双方都心力交瘁。
由于缺乏睡眠，他显得十分心力交瘁。
她不仅要工作，还要照顾家人，早已心力交瘁。
面对复杂的法律诉讼，他感到心力交瘁。
这种心力交瘁的状态已经持续了很久。
他试图掩饰自己心力交瘁的事实。
心力交瘁的员工最终选择了辞职。
长期的焦虑让他处于心力交瘁的边缘。
在经历了数月的超负荷工作后，他已然心力交瘁。
那种心力交瘁的无力感深深笼罩着他。
尽管心力交瘁，他依然在演讲中保持了风度。
这种心力交瘁并非一日之寒，而是长期积累的结果。
她从心力交瘁的困境中慢慢恢复了过来。
对于这种心力交瘁的现状，我们需要寻求改变。
他以心力交瘁的姿态面对记者的提问。
这份工作带来的心力交瘁让他开始反思人生。
他那双深陷的眼窝透露出一种心力交瘁的沧桑感。
在那段动荡的岁月中，他始终处于心力交瘁的状态。
这种心力交瘁的深重感，非亲历者难以体会。
她用一种心力交瘁的语调讲述了当年的往事。
心力交瘁之下，他终于放下了所有的执念。
那种心力交瘁的疲惫感，仿佛渗透进了骨髓。
他试图在心力交瘁的边缘寻找一丝宁静。
文学作品中常以心力交瘁来刻画悲剧英雄的宿命。
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"油尽灯枯"
Near death or total exhaustion.
他已经油尽灯枯了。
literary"筋疲力尽"
Physically worn out.
我累得筋疲力尽。
neutral"心力交瘁"
Mentally and physically drained.
他感到心力交瘁。
formal"精疲力竭"
Totally exhausted.
比赛后他精疲力竭。
neutral"力不从心"
Unable to do what one wishes.
岁数大了，力不从心。
formal"疲于奔命"
Exhausted from constant activity.
为了赶工，他疲于奔命。
formalEasily Confused
Both mean tired.
心力交瘁 is stronger.
疲惫 is just tired, 心力交瘁 is burnout.
Both mean exhausted.
筋疲力尽 is physical.
筋疲力尽 is for sports.
Both mean exhausted.
精疲力竭 is slightly more common.
Both are interchangeable.
Both have '心' and '力'.
力不从心 is about ability.
力不从心 is about capacity.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 感到 + 心力交瘁
我感到心力交瘁。
Subject + 心力交瘁
他心力交瘁。
因为 + 原因 + 而 + 心力交瘁
因为工作而心力交瘁。
心力交瘁的 + 名词
心力交瘁的老师。
Subject + 变得 + 心力交瘁
他变得心力交瘁。
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
It requires a mental component.
It sounds too heavy for casual chat.
It is much stronger than 'tired'.
Characters matter in idioms.
It loses impact if used too often.
Tips
Break it down
Heart + Power + Together + Wither.
Use with 感到
Makes it sound natural.
Literary feel
It sounds educated.
Adjective usage
It describes a state.
Tones matter
Practice the 1st and 4th tones.
Don't over-use
It is a strong word.
Ancient roots
Used in old texts.
Write it out
Writing helps memory.
Rhythm
2-2 rhythm.
Professional setting
Good for explaining burnout.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a heart (心) and energy (力) both (交) withering (瘁).
Visual Association
A wilting flower.
Word Web
Challenge
Use it in a sentence today.
Word Origin
Chinese
Original meaning: Heart-strength mutually withered.
Cultural Context
None.
Equates to 'burnout' or 'drained'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 工作让我心力交瘁
- 项目结束后我心力交瘁
- 长期加班导致心力交瘁
At school
- 考试让我心力交瘁
- 学习压力大到心力交瘁
- 复习得心力交瘁
Daily life
- 照顾孩子心力交瘁
- 面对琐事心力交瘁
- 生活压力让人心力交瘁
Health
- 感觉心力交瘁需要休息
- 长期失眠导致心力交瘁
- 心力交瘁影响健康
Conversation Starters
"你最近感到心力交瘁吗？"
"什么事情会让你觉得心力交瘁？"
"当你心力交瘁时，你会怎么放松？"
"你觉得现代人为什么容易心力交瘁？"
"如果朋友心力交瘁，你会怎么安慰他？"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you felt 心力交瘁.
What are three ways to avoid feeling 心力交瘁?
How do you balance your mental and physical health?
Write about a character who is 心力交瘁.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is for both mental and physical.
Yes, if you are very tired.
xīn lì jiāo cuì.
Yes, in formal writing.
It can be related to burnout.
No, it is for humans.
It functions as an adjective.
疲惫 is shorter.
Test Yourself
我感到___。
Correct context for exhaustion.
What does it mean?
It means exhaustion.
Is it used for happiness?
It is for exhaustion.
Word
Meaning
Matches meaning.
Subject-verb-adjective.
Score: /5
Summary
心力交瘁 describes the total burnout of both mind and body.
- Means mentally and physically exhausted.
- Used in formal and serious contexts.
- Stronger than just being 'tired'.
- Requires both mental and physical drain.
Break it down
Heart + Power + Together + Wither.
Use with 感到
Makes it sound natural.
Literary feel
It sounds educated.
Adjective usage
It describes a state.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More emotions words
有点
A1A little; somewhat; rather.
可恶
A2Hateful; detestable; abominable.
心不在焉
A2Absent-minded; preoccupied.
接受地
A2Acceptingly; receptively.
成就感
B1Sense of achievement; fulfillment.
撒娇
A2To act like a spoiled child; to act cute.
上瘾
B1To be addicted to something.
沉迷
A2To be addicted to; to be engrossed in.
敬佩
B1Admiration; respect; reverence.
佩服
B1To admire; to respect.
