Meanings of 瘠
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About 瘠
Podcast: 瘠
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
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 瘠
- 1The meaning half疒 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half脊 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaysickness
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 瘠? 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
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Decomposition of 瘠
Identify the Components
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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.
Write 瘠
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Practice writing 瘠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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.
Complete the Sentence
那个县的土壤十分贫____.
The soil in that county is very poor.
Example Sentences for 瘠 (1)
Word Family of 瘠
Compound Meaning
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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