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.'
Imagine a person so hungry that they can only think of their empty 'stomach' (the radical 馁 resembles a mouth with food missing). You can remember 'něi' by visualizing a 'nail' (similar sound) poking your stomach, intensifying your hunger.
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.
In Chinese culture, discussing hunger can evoke strong emotions, especially in historical contexts where famine was prevalent. The term 馁 might appear in literature that reflects on the hardships faced during those times.
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
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 馁?
Decomposition of 馁
Identify the Components
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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.
Cultural Notes for 馁
In Chinese culture, discussing hunger can evoke strong emotions, especially in historical contexts where famine was prevalent. The term 馁 might appear in literature that reflects on the hardships faced during those times.
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.