Meanings of 罄
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About 罄
Podcast: 罄
Podcast: 罄
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AI Study Notes for 罄
耗 (hào) vs 罄 (qìng): use 耗 when focusing on the process of consumption or waste; use 罄 to emphasize total depletion.
Common mistakes include confusing 罄 (qìng) with similar-sounding characters that may have different meanings. It is typically used in more formal contexts, so learners should be cautious when using it in casual conversation. Phrases like '罄竹难书' (to exhaust the bamboo, meaning too many things to list) are common collocations.
Though 罄 (qìng) is not part of HSK vocabulary, it shares semantic fields with other words related to emptiness and exhaustion, such as 空 (kōng, empty) and 用尽 (yòng jìn, to use up). Students should focus on recognizing its use in literary contexts.
Learners often confuse 罄 (qìng) with 空 (kōng), thinking both mean 'empty,' but 罄 emphasizes total depletion. For example, saying '罄的水' (empty water) is incorrect; it should be '空的水'.
Pronunciation of 罄
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Etymology of 罄
Phonosemantic compound. 缶 represents the meaning and 殸 represents the sound.
pottery
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 罄
Phonosemantic compound. 缶 represents the meaning and 殸 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half缶 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half殸 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaypottery
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 罄? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 罄?
Decomposition of 罄
Identify the Components
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How to say empty; to exhaust, to run out, to use up in Chinese
“empty; to exhaust, to run out, to use up” in Chinese is罄
The character 罄 (qìng) primarily means 'to exhaust' or 'to use up.' It is often used in contexts where something is completely consumed or depleted, such as resources or energy. This character can also convey a sense of emptiness, emphasizing the totality of depletion.
When to use 罄
Common mistakes include confusing 罄 (qìng) with similar-sounding characters that may have different meanings. It is typically used in more formal contexts, so learners should be cautious when using it in casual conversation. Phrases like '罄竹难书' (to exhaust the bamboo, meaning too many things to list) are common collocations.
罄 or something close to it
耗 (hào) vs 罄 (qìng): use 耗 when focusing on the process of consumption or waste; use 罄 to emphasize total depletion.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 罄 (qìng) with 空 (kōng), thinking both mean 'empty,' but 罄 emphasizes total depletion. For example, saying '罄的水' (empty water) is incorrect; it should be '空的水'.
Write 罄
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Practice writing 罄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 罄
罄 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
演出门票在70分钟内即告售____。
Tickets for the show sold out in 70 minutes.
Example Sentences for 罄 (1)
Word Family of 罄
Compound Meaning
What does 罄 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 罄
It is pronounced as 'qìng' with a falling tone.
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