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泄气 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
泄气xièqìto leak (gas)HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, rank #12835, Very Hard
泄气xièqìto be discouragedHSK 7, v, 12 strokes, rank #12835, Very Hard
泄气xièqìto despairHSK 7, v, 12 strokes, rank #12835, Very Hard
泄气xièqì(disparaging) patheticHSK 7, v, 12 strokes, rank #12835, Very Hard
泄气xièqìto vent one's angerHSK 7, v, 12 strokes, rank #12835, Very Hard
泄气xièqì(of a tire) to be flatHSK 7, v, 12 strokes, rank #12835, Very Hard
xièqì(xie4qi4)xie qi T4
  1. 1to leak (gas)
  2. 2to be discouraged
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March 24, 2026

泄气(洩氣)xièqì(xie4qi4)

The term '泄气' (xie4 qi4) primarily means to leak air or gas. Figuratively, it conveys feelings of discouragement or despair, often used when someone feels defeated or hopeless. In casual contexts, it can also express the idea of venting frustration or anger.

Strokes12Frequency#12835DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

'泄气' reflects a common sentiment in Chinese culture where persistence is valued. The expression is often used to encourage resilience in the face of challenges, resonating with the cultural value of perseverance (坚持).

Memory Tip

Imagine a balloon (气) that's leaking (泄) air, making a sad sound. You can visualize the balloon becoming deflated, representing feelings of discouragement. The sound 'xie' can remind you of 'shedding' air, connecting it to both the literal and figurative meanings.

Meanings of 泄气

xièqì(xie4qi4)
1to leak (gas)
2to be discouraged
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 泄气

泄气Simplified
洩氣Traditional
12Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#12835Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 泄气

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AI Study Notes for 泄气

Quick Contrast

气馁 (qì nǎi) - use '泄气' for a more casual expression of discouragement, while '气馁' carries a slightly more formal tone of being dispirited.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse '泄气' with similar-sounding phrases. This term is informal and often used in spoken language to convey emotional states, so avoid using it in very formal writing. Common collocations include '泄气的情绪' (feelings of discouragement) and '不要泄气' (don't be discouraged).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, '泄气' connects with other expressions of emotion and physical states. Focus on its usage in conversations about feelings and frustrations. Practicing sentences that involve both its literal and figurative meanings can enhance understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse '泄气' by applying it in overly formal contexts, such as in academic writing. An incorrect example would be: '在这次考试中,我感到很泄气' (I feel very discouraged in this exam) — better phrased as '在这次考试中,我感到很沮丧'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 泄气

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Component Characters

泄xièto leak (of water or gas)
HSK 78 strokes氵
View full entry
气qìgas
HSK 44 strokes气
View full entry

How to say to leak (gas) in Chinese

“to leak (gas)” in Chinese is泄气xièqì

The term '泄气' (xie4 qi4) primarily means to leak air or gas. Figuratively, it conveys feelings of discouragement or despair, often used when someone feels defeated or hopeless. In casual contexts, it can also express the idea of venting frustration or anger.

When to use 泄气

Be cautious not to confuse '泄气' with similar-sounding phrases. This term is informal and often used in spoken language to convey emotional states, so avoid using it in very formal writing. Common collocations include '泄气的情绪' (feelings of discouragement) and '不要泄气' (don't be discouraged).

泄气 or something close to it

气馁 (qì nǎi) - use '泄气' for a more casual expression of discouragement, while '气馁' carries a slightly more formal tone of being dispirited.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse '泄气' by applying it in overly formal contexts, such as in academic writing. An incorrect example would be: '在这次考试中,我感到很泄气' (I feel very discouraged in this exam) — better phrased as '在这次考试中,我感到很沮丧'.

Write 泄气

泄
气

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Grammar Patterns of 泄气

泄气 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. It carries 6 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.

Exercise 1 of 3

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我深感____地回去把这消息告诉了比尔。

Despondently, I went back and told Bill the news.

Example Sentences for 泄气 (2)

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1
我深感泄气地回去把这消息告诉了比尔。

wǒ shēn gǎn xiè qì dì huí qù bǎ zhè xiāo xī gào sù le bǐ ěr。

Despondently, I went back and told Bill the news.
2
微弱的掌声叫我们泄气.

wēi ruò de zhǎng shēng jiào wǒ mén xiè qì.

The feeble applause disheartened us.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 泄气

It literally means 'to leak air or gas', often referring to a tire or balloon.

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