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衰竭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
衰竭shuāijiéorgan failureHSK 7, unknown, 24 strokes, rank #9734, Very Hard
衰竭shuāijiéexhaustionHSK 7, unknown, 24 strokes, rank #9734, Very Hard
衰竭shuāijiéprostration (medicine)HSK 7, unknown, 24 strokes, rank #9734, Very Hard
shuāijié(shuai1jie2)shuai jie T1
  1. 1organ failure
  2. 2exhaustion
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March 24, 2026

衰竭shuāijié(shuai1jie2)

衰竭 (shuai1 jie2) refers to a state of extreme weakness or depletion, often used in medical contexts to describe organ failure or severe exhaustion. It conveys a sense of something that has diminished or is no longer functioning effectively, whether physically or metaphorically.

Strokes24Frequency#9734DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, discussions around health and medical conditions often emphasize the importance of balance and harmony. The concept of 衰竭 reflects societal concerns about physical well-being and the consequences of neglecting one's health, which aligns with traditional Chinese medicine's preventative approach.

Memory tip

Imagine a balloon (an organ) that has lost all its air and is completely flat—that's 衰 (shuai), meaning decline. The second character 竭 (jie) looks like a person reaching out for help, emphasizing the need for restoration. Together, they tell the story of a body that has run out of energy and needs immediate attention.

Meanings of 衰竭

shuāijié(shuai1jie2)
1organ failure
2exhaustion
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About 衰竭

衰竭Simplified
24Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 衰竭

Quick Contrast

衰退 (shuāituì) refers to a decline or deterioration in quality or condition, while 衰竭 (shuāijié) specifically indicates a state of extreme depletion or failure.

Usage Notes

衰竭 is often used in formal medical discussions, so it's important to use it in appropriate contexts, such as while discussing health or medical conditions. Common collocations include '心脏衰竭' (heart failure) and '体力衰竭' (physical exhaustion). Watch out for tone errors, as mispronouncing the first tone can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 衰竭 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can be useful for students at the advanced level (HSK 5 or 6) to understand medical terminology. Focus on recognizing it in medical literature or discussions, and practice using it in context to enhance your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 衰竭 to refer to general fatigue without medical context; instead, use 疲劳 (pi2lao2) for that. Another mistake is mispronouncing the tones, which can change the intended meaning significantly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 衰竭

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Component characters

衰cuīmourning garments
HSK 610 strokes衣
View full entry
竭jiéto exhaust
14 strokes立
View full entry

How to say organ failure in Chinese

“organ failure” in Chinese is衰竭shuāijié

衰竭 (shuai1 jie2) refers to a state of extreme weakness or depletion, often used in medical contexts to describe organ failure or severe exhaustion. It conveys a sense of something that has diminished or is no longer functioning effectively, whether physically or metaphorically.

When to use 衰竭

衰竭 is often used in formal medical discussions, so it's important to use it in appropriate contexts, such as while discussing health or medical conditions. Common collocations include '心脏衰竭' (heart failure) and '体力衰竭' (physical exhaustion). Watch out for tone errors, as mispronouncing the first tone can change the meaning.

衰竭 or something close to it

衰退 (shuāituì) refers to a decline or deterioration in quality or condition, while 衰竭 (shuāijié) specifically indicates a state of extreme depletion or failure.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 衰竭 to refer to general fatigue without medical context; instead, use 疲劳 (pi2lao2) for that. Another mistake is mispronouncing the tones, which can change the intended meaning significantly.

Write 衰竭

衰
竭

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Frequently asked questions about 衰竭

Use 衰竭 when discussing severe health issues, particularly in medical contexts or when describing extreme fatigue.

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