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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#26227DifficultyHard
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
Exercise 1 of 3
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
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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.
When problems arise, whether due to lack of experience or insufficient preparation, in any case we need to reflect seriously.
Common Confusions with 乏
乏vs伐
fá
Same pronunciation but different meanings and radicals.
乏vs发
fā
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "short of"?
or
Usage Notes for 乏
Misuse in ExpressionsCommon Error
Learners might confuse 乏 with other terms to express tiredness or lack. It is important to use it in the right context.
1
我感到乏力。
I feel exhausted.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
我感到____力。
I feel exhausted.
Example Sentences for 乏 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这部小说的各部分之间缺乏连贯性。
zhè bù xiǎo shuō de gè bù fēn zhī jiān quē fá lián guàn xìng。
The various elements of the novel fail to cohere.
2
我觉得那些人物形象即使不说是乏味无聊，至少也是毫无深度。
wǒ jué dé nà xiē rén wù xíng xiàng jí shǐ bù shuō shì fá wèi wú liáo， ， zhì shǎo yě shì háo wú shēn。
I found the characters very two-dimensional, not to say dull.
3
女性误以为是考虑不周的事情往往只是缺乏自信。
nǚ xìng wù yǐ wéi shì kǎo lǜ bù zhōu de shì qíng wǎng wǎng zhī shì quē fá zì xìn。
What women mistake as thoughtlessness is often just diffidence.
4
摇滚乐自从朋克乐以后就已经过于商业化而缺乏新意了。
yáo gǔn lè zì cóng péng kè lè yǐ hòu jiù yǐ jīng guò yú shāng yè huà ér quē fá xīn yì le。
Rock'n'roll has become so commercialised and safe since punk.
5
他对国际事务缺乏经验且无知，这很让我吃惊。
tā duì guó jì shì wù quē fá jīng yàn qiě wú zhī， ， zhè hěn ràng wǒ chī。
I was alarmed by his naivety and ignorance of international affairs.
6
不过，缺乏的是一种内在的艺术凝聚力。
bù guò， ， quē fá de shì yī zhǒng nèi zài de yì shù níng jù。
What is missing, however, is an internal, artistic cohesion.
7
他被指无趣乏味，古板守旧，心胸狭窄。
tā bèi zhǐ wú qù fá wèi， ， gǔ bǎn shǒu， jiù ， xīn xiōng。
He was criticised for being boring, strait-laced and narrow-minded.
8
我们越来越反感他益发无趣又缺乏见地的言论。
wǒ mén yuè lái yuè fǎn gǎn tā yì fā wú qù yòu quē fá jiàn dì de yán lùn。
We became increasingly fed up with his increasingly unfunny and unintelligent comments.
9
上班时，他淹没在枯燥乏味的会海中。
shàng bān shí， ， tā yān méi zài kū zào fá wèi de huì hǎi。
At work, he was chained to a system of boring meetings.
10
他们的经营既有真正的专业水准又不乏个人特色。
tā mén de jīng yíng jì yǒu zhēn zhèng de zhuān yè shuǐ zhǔn yòu bù fá gè rén tè sè。
They run it with a truly professional but personal touch.
Cultural Notes for 乏
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 乏
Compounds12
眨zha3to blink
泛fan4variant of 泛[fàn]
贬bian3to diminish
砭bian1stone probe; to pierce; to counsel
窆bian3to lower a coffin into a grave
覂
鴔fu2hoopoe, crested bird
姂
抸
柉
疺
貶bian3to devalue, to demote; to criticize, to censure
Words Containing This Character14
缺乏quēfáto lack
乏味tedious
不乏there is no lack of
乏力weak
匮乏to be deficient in sth匱乏
乏fátired
贫乏pínfálacking貧乏
疲乏tired
回天乏术to fail to save the situation回天乏術
解乏to freshen up
乏善可陈to be nothing to write home about (idiom)乏善可陳
后继乏人to have no qualified successors to carry on one's undertaking後繼乏人
人困马乏worn out人困馬乏
乏燃料spent fuel
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 眨 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 乏
It can mean tired or lacking, for example, '我觉得很乏' (Wǒ juédé hěn fá) means 'I feel very tired.'
It is more commonly found in written Chinese or formal speech rather than in casual conversation.
