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) 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
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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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.
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.
1The giveawayA foot 之 running into a wall or barrier 丿
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 乏? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 乏?
Decomposition of 乏
IDS Structure⿱丿之
乏Full Character
=
丿pie3
top
之zhi1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 乏?
How to say short of in Chinese
“short of” in Chinese is乏fá
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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Practice writing 乏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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.
