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乏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
乏
fá
short of
HSK 7, a, 4 strokes, radical 丿, rank #26227, Very Hard
乏
fá
tired
HSK 7, a, 4 strokes, radical 丿, rank #26227, Very Hard
乏
fá
poor; short, lacking; tired
HSK 7, a, 4 strokes, radical 丿, rank #26227, Very Hard
fá(fa2)fa T2
1short of
2tired
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March 24, 2026
乏fá(fa2)
乏 (fá) refers to a state of being short of something, often related to energy or resources. It is commonly used to describe feelings of tiredness or lack, and can also imply being in a poor or insufficient condition. This character can appear in various contexts, from physical fatigue to a lack of enthusiasm or resources.
Strokes4Radical丿Frequency#26227DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, feeling '乏' can be associated with an imbalance in one's vital energy (气, qì), reflecting how cultural beliefs about health and energy influence language.
Memory tip
Imagine a person who is so tired that they can barely stand up; they feel '乏' (fá) because they are 'falling' from exhaustion. The character has a component '亻' (person) which can remind you that it’s about human experience — feeling short of energy.
Meanings of 乏
fá(fa2)
1short of
2tired
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About 乏
乏Simplified
4Strokes
丿Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#26227Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 乏
Podcast: 乏
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AI study notes for 乏
Quick Contrast
疲 (tí) - use 乏 (fá) when emphasizing a lack or deficiency, while 疲 (tí) specifically refers to physical tiredness.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone; '乏' is pronounced with the second tone (fá), which can be confused with '发' (fā, to issue or to send out). It is often used in more formal or literary contexts, so it might not be as common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '精力乏' (jīnglì fá - lacking energy) and '乏味' (fáwèi - dull or boring).
HSK Study Tips
乏 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists but can be useful for HSK 4 learners who are expanding their vocabulary related to emotions and states of being. Students should focus on its usage in phrases and context to understand its nuances better.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 乏 with similar-sounding characters like 发 (fā). For instance, saying '我很发' instead of '我很乏' is incorrect; the correct phrase means 'I am very tired.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 乏
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Knowing 乏 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
Line over 之 (foot), similar to how 正 (straight; correct) is a line over 止 (foot). Possibly represents the opposite of 正, since the top line in 乏 is written in the opposite direction as the top line in 正.
乏 (fá) refers to a state of being short of something, often related to energy or resources. It is commonly used to describe feelings of tiredness or lack, and can also imply being in a poor or insufficient condition. This character can appear in various contexts, from physical fatigue to a lack of enthusiasm or resources.
When to use 乏
Be careful with the tone; '乏' is pronounced with the second tone (fá), which can be confused with '发' (fā, to issue or to send out). It is often used in more formal or literary contexts, so it might not be as common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '精力乏' (jīnglì fá - lacking energy) and '乏味' (fáwèi - dull or boring).
乏 or something close to it
疲 (tí) - use 乏 (fá) when emphasizing a lack or deficiency, while 疲 (tí) specifically refers to physical tiredness.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 乏 with similar-sounding characters like 发 (fā). For instance, saying '我很发' instead of '我很乏' is incorrect; the correct phrase means 'I am very tired.'
Write 乏
乏
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Grammar patterns of 乏
乏 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
