心力交瘁
xīn lì jiāo cuì
drained by long strain and worry; utterly worn out
Character by character
心xīn
mind
mind
力lì
strength
strength
交jiāo
both
both
瘁cuì
worn out
worn out
Example
一边照顾生病的孩子，一边应付工作，她已经心力交瘁。
Caring for a sick child while keeping on top of her work, she is utterly drained.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
瘁 (cuì) is the 瘁 of 鞠躬尽瘁 (lesson 6-4): worn out. 交 means both at once, heart and strength. It describes exhaustion from long strain, worry and responsibility rather than one hard day: 弄得心力交瘁, 感到心力交瘁. It is heavier and more inward than 精疲力尽, which is mostly physical.
Learn this in Lesson 161 · HSK 7–9: 忘了回家的路 (Forgetting the way home)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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