Meanings of 瘠
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Podcast: 瘠
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AI Study Notes for 瘠
瘦 (shòu) — use 瘠 (jí) when emphasizing emaciation or barrenness, while 瘦 (shòu) simply denotes thinness without the connotation of malnutrition.
瘠 is more commonly used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious of its tone, as it can carry a negative connotation when describing people. Common collocations include 瘠薄 (jíbó) which means emaciated or very thin.
While 瘠 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with other vocabulary related to health and body, such as 胖 (pàng, fat) and 瘦 (shòu, thin). Students should focus on recognizing the character's components and understanding its usage in literature.
Learners often confuse 瘠 with 瘦 (shòu), both meaning thin but with different nuances. For example, saying '他很瘠' (Tā hěn jí) instead of '他很瘦' (Tā hěn shòu) could imply a harsher judgment about the person's health.
Pronunciation of 瘠
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Etymology of 瘠
sickness
Origin
瘠 = 疒 + 脊. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 瘠
Parts
Which of these is part of 瘠?
How to say thin, emaciated; barren in Chinese
“thin, emaciated; barren” in Chinese is瘠
The character 瘠 (jí) refers to being thin or emaciated, often describing someone who is undernourished or lacking in body fat. It can also be used to describe barren land or a lack of fertility, extending its meaning beyond physical appearance to encompass conditions of scarcity.
When to use 瘠
瘠 is more commonly used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious of its tone, as it can carry a negative connotation when describing people. Common collocations include 瘠薄 (jíbó) which means emaciated or very thin.
瘠 or something close to it
瘦 (shòu) — use 瘠 (jí) when emphasizing emaciation or barrenness, while 瘦 (shòu) simply denotes thinness without the connotation of malnutrition.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 瘠 with 瘦 (shòu), both meaning thin but with different nuances. For example, saying '他很瘠' (Tā hěn jí) instead of '他很瘦' (Tā hěn shòu) could imply a harsher judgment about the person's health.
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Grammar Patterns of 瘠
瘠 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
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那个县的土壤十分贫____.
The soil in that county is very poor.
Example Sentences for 瘠 (1)
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Word Family of 瘠
Words with 瘠
What does 贫瘠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瘠
Some synonyms include 瘦 (shòu, thin) and 干瘪 (gānbiě, shriveled).
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