Meanings of 馁
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About 馁
Podcast: 馁
Podcast: 馁
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AI Study Notes for 馁
饥 (jī) — use 馁 (něi) to convey a deeper, more desperate state of hunger than the general term 饥 (jī) which simply means 'hungry.'
Learners should be cautious not to confuse 馁 with other similar words for hunger, such as 饿 (è), which is more common and less intense. This word is generally used in more formal or literary contexts, so it may not be suitable in casual conversations about hunger.
Although 馁 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other HSK words related to food and hunger, such as 饿 (è). Students should focus on the emotional connotations of this word when discussing desires or needs.
Learners often confuse 馁 with 饿, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我馁' (Wǒ něi) to mean 'I am hungry' is incorrect; instead, use '我饿' (Wǒ è).
Pronunciation of 馁
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Etymology of 馁
food
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 馁
- 1The meaning half饣 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half妥 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayfood
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 馁? 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 馁?
Decomposition of 馁
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 馁?
How to say famished, hungry, starving in Chinese
“famished, hungry, starving” in Chinese is馁
The character 馁 (něi) describes a state of extreme hunger or starvation. It is often used in literary contexts or to emphasize a deep sense of longing for food, conveying a more intense feeling than just being 'hungry.' This word can also imply desperation in situations where food is scarce.
When to use 馁
Learners should be cautious not to confuse 馁 with other similar words for hunger, such as 饿 (è), which is more common and less intense. This word is generally used in more formal or literary contexts, so it may not be suitable in casual conversations about hunger.
馁 or something close to it
饥 (jī) — use 馁 (něi) to convey a deeper, more desperate state of hunger than the general term 饥 (jī) which simply means 'hungry.'
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 馁 with 饿, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我馁' (Wǒ něi) to mean 'I am hungry' is incorrect; instead, use '我饿' (Wǒ è).
Write 馁
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Practice writing 馁 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 馁
馁 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
勿因一次失败而气____.
Don't let one failure discourage you.
Example Sentences for 馁 (1)
Reorder the Sentence
Don't let one failure discourage you.
Word Family of 馁
Compound Meaning
What does 气馁 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 馁
No, it's typically used in literary or formal contexts, while 饿 is more commonly used in everyday speech.
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