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气馁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
气馁qìněito be discouragedHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #17321, Very Hard
qìněi(qi4nei3)qi nei T4
  1. 1to be discouraged
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March 24, 2026

气馁(氣餒)qìněi(qi4nei3)

气馁 (qì nǎi) means to feel discouraged or disheartened, often in the face of challenges or setbacks. It is commonly used to express a loss of confidence or motivation, especially when one encounters difficulties in achieving a goal.

Strokes14Frequency#17321DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, perseverance is highly valued, and expressions of discouragement like 气馁 often come with advice to keep pushing forward, reflecting the cultural emphasis on resilience in the face of adversity.

Memory tip

Imagine a deflated balloon (气) that represents your spirit, and the character for 'discouraged' (馁) looks like a sad face. Together, they create a vivid image of feeling low and lacking enthusiasm, making it easier to remember the pronunciation 'qi nei'.

Meanings of 气馁

qìněi(qi4nei3)
1to be discouraged
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About 气馁

气馁Simplified
氣餒Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 气馁

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Podcast: 气馁

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AI study notes for 气馁

Quick Contrast

气馁 (qìněi) vs 失望 (shīwàng) — use 气馁 for a loss of motivation due to challenges, while 失望 conveys disappointment in expectations.

Usage Notes

气馁 is often used in informal contexts when discussing personal feelings or experiences. Avoid using it in overly formal situations. Common collocations include phrases like '不要气馁' (Don't be discouraged) to encourage others.

HSK Study Tips

Though 气馁 is not directly listed in HSK vocabulary, it relates to emotions and resilience, which are essential themes for learners at this level. Students should focus on similar emotional vocabulary to build a broader understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 气馁 with similar terms like 沮丧 (jǔsàng), which can lead to misinterpretation. For example, saying '我气馁了' (I am discouraged) is correct, but using it in a context meant for a more serious emotional state could be inappropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 气馁

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Component characters

气qìgas
HSK 44 strokes气
View full entry
馁něifamished, hungry, starving
10 strokes饣
View full entry

How to say to be discouraged in Chinese

“to be discouraged” in Chinese is气馁qìněi

气馁 (qì nǎi) means to feel discouraged or disheartened, often in the face of challenges or setbacks. It is commonly used to express a loss of confidence or motivation, especially when one encounters difficulties in achieving a goal.

When to use 气馁

气馁 is often used in informal contexts when discussing personal feelings or experiences. Avoid using it in overly formal situations. Common collocations include phrases like '不要气馁' (Don't be discouraged) to encourage others.

气馁 or something close to it

气馁 (qìněi) vs 失望 (shīwàng) — use 气馁 for a loss of motivation due to challenges, while 失望 conveys disappointment in expectations.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 气馁 with similar terms like 沮丧 (jǔsàng), which can lead to misinterpretation. For example, saying '我气馁了' (I am discouraged) is correct, but using it in a context meant for a more serious emotional state could be inappropriate.

Write 气馁

气
馁

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Frequently asked questions about 气馁

You can say '我在这个项目中感到气馁' (I feel discouraged in this project).

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