píláo: 疲劳 - Fatigue, Weariness, Exhaustion

• Keywords: píláo, 疲劳, fatigue in Chinese, tired in Chinese, weary, exhausted, burnout in Chinese, pilao meaning, how to say exhausted in Chinese, mental fatigue, physical fatigue, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 疲劳 (píláo), the Chinese word for a deep sense of fatigue, exhaustion, or weariness. This comprehensive guide explores how píláo differs from the more common word for “tired” (累 lèi), its cultural significance in modern China's work culture, and how to use it accurately in both physical and mental contexts. Master this essential HSK 4 term to express a more profound level of exhaustion.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): píláo
• Part of Speech: Adjective / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A state of physical or mental exhaustion; fatigue.
• In a Nutshell: 疲劳 (píláo) goes beyond just feeling sleepy. It describes a deep-seated weariness or exhaustion that accumulates over time. Think of it as “fatigue” rather than simply “tired.” It can be caused by prolonged physical labor, intense exercise, long hours of work, or mental strain. It has a more formal and slightly medical feel than its common counterpart, `累 (lèi)`.

• 疲 (pí): This character is composed of the “sickness” radical `疒` and the phonetic component `皮 (pí)`, which means “skin.” You can think of it as a weariness that is rooted in a state of unwellness, a fatigue that's more than just skin deep.
• 劳 (láo): This character depicts “strength” `力` under a symbol for “work” or “toil.” It fundamentally means “labor.”
• Together, 疲劳 (píláo) literally means “weariness from labor.” The characters combine perfectly to describe a state of exhaustion resulting from hard work, effort, or strain.

In Chinese culture, where diligence and the ability to “eat bitterness” (吃苦 chī kǔ) are highly valued virtues, 疲劳 (píláo) is an acknowledged and common state. It's often seen as the natural, expected outcome of striving for success, whether in academics or a career. This contrasts with the Western concept of “burnout,” which often carries a stronger connotation of psychological collapse or a failure of the system. While 疲劳 (píláo) can certainly lead to burnout (过劳 guòláo, lit. “excessive labor”), it is more broadly used to describe the general state of being worn out. In discussions about China's demanding “996” work culture (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week), 疲劳 is a key term used to describe the collective feeling of the workforce. It's less of a personal failing and more of a shared societal condition born from intense competition and a drive for collective progress.

疲劳 (píláo) is used in more formal or serious contexts compared to the everyday word `累 (lèi)`.

• Medical Context: It's the standard term you would use in a doctor's office.
  • `医生，我最近总是感到疲劳。` (Doctor, I've been feeling fatigued recently.)
• Work and Formal Reports: It is often used in writing or formal speech to discuss the effects of overwork.
  • `长期的工作压力会导致精神疲劳。` (Long-term work pressure can lead to mental fatigue.)
• Figurative Usage: In modern Chinese, the concept has been extended to non-physical contexts.
  • `审美疲劳 (shěnměi píláo)` - “Aesthetic fatigue,” the feeling of being tired of seeing the same style or trend over and over again.
• Warnings and Public Service Announcements:
  • `请勿疲劳驾驶。` (Please do not drive while fatigued.) - This is a common sign on highways.

• Example 1:
  • 他连续工作了十二个小时，感到非常疲劳。
  • Pinyin: Tā liánxù gōngzuò le shí'èr ge xiǎoshí, gǎndào fēicháng píláo.
  • English: He worked for twelve hours straight and felt extremely fatigued.
  • Analysis: This describes a deep exhaustion from prolonged work, making 疲劳 more appropriate than just `累 (lèi)`.
• Example 2:
  • 这次旅行太长了，我现在身心疲劳。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì lǚxíng tài cháng le, wǒ xiànzài shēnxīn píláo.
  • English: This trip was too long, I am now mentally and physically exhausted.
  • Analysis: `身心 (shēnxīn)` means “body and mind.” 身心疲劳 is a common and powerful collocation.
• Example 3:
  • 医生说我的症状是由过度疲劳引起的。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō wǒ de zhèngzhuàng shì yóuyú guòdù píláo yǐnqǐ de.
  • English: The doctor said my symptoms were caused by excessive fatigue.
  • Analysis: Here, 疲劳 is used as a noun in a formal, medical context. `过度 (guòdù)` means “excessive.”
• Example 4:
  • 为了缓解疲劳，他决定去度个假。
  • Pinyin: Wèile huǎnjiě píláo, tā juédìng qù dù ge jià.
  • English: In order to relieve his fatigue, he decided to go on vacation.
  • Analysis: This sentence also uses 疲劳 as a noun. `缓解 (huǎnjiě)` means “to relieve” or “to alleviate.”
• Example 5:
  • 疲劳驾驶是造成交通事故的主要原因之一。
  • Pinyin: Píláo jiàshǐ shì zàochéng jiāotōng shìgù de zhǔyào yuányīn zhī yī.
  • English: Fatigued driving is one of the main causes of traffic accidents.
  • Analysis: 疲劳驾驶 (píláo jiàshǐ) is a set phrase for “drowsy/fatigued driving.”
• Example 6:
  • 长时间盯着电脑屏幕会导致视觉疲劳。
  • Pinyin: Cháng shíjiān dīng zhe diànnǎo píngmù huì dǎozhì shìjué píláo.
  • English: Staring at a computer screen for a long time can lead to visual fatigue.
  • Analysis: `视觉疲劳 (shìjué píláo)` is another specific collocation, meaning “eye strain” or “visual fatigue.”
• Example 7:
  • 我对这些重复的音乐已经产生了审美疲劳。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ duì zhèxiē chóngfù de yīnyuè yǐjīng chǎnshēng le shěnměi píláo.
  • English: I've already developed aesthetic fatigue towards this repetitive music.
  • Analysis: This shows the modern, figurative use of the term. `审美 (shěnměi)` means “aesthetics.”
• Example 8:
  • 高强度的训练让运动员们都处于疲劳状态。
  • Pinyin: Gāo qiángdù de xùnliàn ràng yùndòngyuán men dōu chǔyú píláo zhuàngtài.
  • English: The high-intensity training left the athletes in a state of fatigue.
  • Analysis: `处于…状态 (chǔyú…zhuàngtài)` means “to be in a state of…” This is a more formal way of expressing the situation.
• Example 9:
  • 我们需要注意员工的心理疲劳问题。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào zhùyì yuángōng de xīnlǐ píláo wèntí.
  • English: We need to pay attention to the issue of employees' mental fatigue.
  • Analysis: `心理 (xīnlǐ)` means “psychological” or “mental.” This is a common term in HR and management contexts.
• Example 10:
  • 他看起来很疲劳，好像好几天没睡觉了。
  • Pinyin: Tā kànqǐlái hěn píláo, hǎoxiàng hǎo jǐ tiān méi shuìjiào le.
  • English: He looks exhausted, as if he hasn't slept for several days.
  • Analysis: Even in spoken language, 疲劳 can be used if the degree of tiredness is severe and visibly apparent.

The #1 Rule: 疲劳 (píláo) vs. 累 (lèi) This is the most common point of confusion for learners.

• 累 (lèi): This is your everyday, all-purpose word for “tired.” Use it in casual conversation with friends, family, and colleagues for general tiredness.
  • `我今天很累。` (Wǒ jīntiān hěn lèi.) - I'm tired today. (Correct)
  • `我今天很疲劳。` (Wǒ jīntiān hěn píláo.) - (Grammatically okay, but sounds overly formal and dramatic for a normal day).
• 疲劳 (píláo): Use this for a deeper, more chronic, or more serious state of exhaustion. It's more formal and often used in written language, medical discussions, or when describing a severe condition.

Common Mistake Example:

• Incorrect: `我爬了五层楼，现在有点儿疲劳。` (Wǒ pá le wǔ céng lóu, xiànzài yǒudiǎnr píláo.)
• Why it's wrong: Climbing a few flights of stairs causes temporary tiredness, not deep-seated fatigue. It sounds unnatural.
• Correct: `我爬了五层楼，现在有点儿累。` (Wǒ pá le wǔ céng lóu, xiànzài yǒudiǎnr lèi.)

疲劳 (píláo) vs. 困 (kùn)

• 困 (kùn): This word specifically means “sleepy,” the physical sensation of needing to sleep. You can be 疲劳 but not 困 (e.g., “wired and tired”), or you can be 困 without being 疲劳 (e.g., you feel sleepy at your normal bedtime even after a relaxing day).

• 累 (lèi) - The most common word for “tired.” It is the informal, everyday synonym for 疲劳.
• 疲惫 (píbèi) - “Exhausted,” “worn out.” A very strong synonym for 疲劳, often used in literature to create a more vivid image of exhaustion.
• 困 (kùn) - “Sleepy.” Describes the desire to sleep, which is a symptom of, but not identical to, 疲劳.
• 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) - “Hard,” “toilsome.” Describes the *work* or *effort* that causes fatigue. Often used to thank someone: `你辛苦了！` (You've worked hard!).
• 劳累 (láolèi) - “Overworked,” “tired from labor.” A close synonym that emphasizes the cause is work or toil.
• 休息 (xiūxi) - “To rest.” The direct solution to and antonym of 疲劳.
• 过劳 (guòláo) - “Overwork,” “burnout” (similar to the Japanese concept of “karoshi”). This is a serious medical state resulting from chronic, extreme 疲劳.
• 精神 (jīngshén) - “Spirit,” “mind,” “energy.” The opposite of a fatigued state. You can have good `精神` or suffer from `精神疲劳` (mental fatigue).