píbèi: 疲惫 - Exhausted, Fatigued, Worn out

• Keywords: pibei, 疲惫, píbèi, tired in Chinese, exhausted in Chinese, fatigue in Chinese, difference between lei and pibei, advanced Chinese vocabulary, HSK 5
• Summary: Learn the deep meaning of 疲惫 (píbèi), the Chinese word for being profoundly exhausted or fatigued. This page breaks down the characters 疲 and 惫, explains the cultural context of hard work (辛苦) that leads to this state, and contrasts it with the more common word 累 (lèi). With 10 practical example sentences and clear analysis, this guide is perfect for learners who want to express a deeper level of physical and mental weariness beyond just being “tired”.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): píbèi
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be extremely tired; exhausted; fatigued.
• In a Nutshell: 疲惫 (píbèi) is not just your everyday “tired.” It describes a deep, bone-weary exhaustion that affects both the body and the mind. Think of the feeling after a 15-hour flight, finishing a marathon, or pulling an all-nighter for a final exam. It carries more weight and formality than the common word `累 (lèi)`.

• 疲 (pí): This character is composed of the “sickness” radical `疒 (nè)` on the outside and `皮 (pí)`, meaning “skin,” on the inside. You can think of it as a weariness or sickness that affects your whole body, right down to your skin. It primarily relates to physical fatigue.
• 惫 (bèi): This character is less common on its own. It has `备 (bèi)`, meaning “to prepare” or “complete,” on top of the “heart/mind” radical `心 (xīn)`. This suggests a mind that has been completely used up or spent, pointing to mental exhaustion.

When combined, 疲惫 (píbèi) creates a powerful and comprehensive term for a state of being both physically drained (疲) and mentally spent (惫).

In Chinese culture, the value of 吃苦耐劳 (chīkǔ nàiláo)—the ability to “eat bitterness and endure labor”—is highly esteemed. People are often expected to work or study incredibly hard to achieve goals for themselves and their families. 疲惫 (píbèi) is the state often reached after fulfilling this cultural expectation. Unlike the simple English word “exhausted,” which is often purely negative, being 疲惫 can sometimes carry a subtle, underlying sense of accomplishment or honor. It can imply that you have given your absolute all to a task, whether it's studying for the grueling 高考 (gāokǎo) (college entrance exam) or working long hours in the “996” work culture (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week). While the Western concept of “burnout” is similar, 疲惫 is more versatile. “Burnout” usually implies a chronic, long-term state of emotional and professional exhaustion. 疲惫, on the other hand, can describe both a temporary state (e.g., after a long trip) and a more prolonged condition. It captures the heavy feeling of weariness that comes from intense, purposeful effort.

• Formal and Written Contexts: 疲惫 is more formal than its casual cousin `累 (lèi)`. You'll see it more often in literature, news reports, formal speeches, and written communication.
• Describing Intense Weariness: It's used when “tired” just isn't strong enough. It's the perfect word for describing the aftermath of intense physical labor, long-distance travel, high-pressure projects, or significant emotional stress.
• Expressing Empathy: You might use it to describe someone else who looks completely worn out. Saying “你看上去很疲惫” (You look exhausted) shows a deeper level of concern than just saying they look tired.
• Hyperbole: While less common than `累死了 (lèi sǐ le - tired to death)`, younger generations might use 疲惫 on social media for dramatic or humorous effect to describe their state after a tough week.

• Example 1:
  • 开了一整天的会，我现在感到非常疲惫。
  • Pinyin: Kāi le yī zhěng tiān de huì, wǒ xiànzài gǎndào fēicháng píbèi.
  • English: After being in meetings all day, I feel extremely exhausted now.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of using 疲惫 in a professional context to describe mental and physical exhaustion from work.
• Example 2:
  • 长途旅行后，我们都疲惫不堪。
  • Pinyin: Chángtú lǚxíng hòu, wǒmen dōu píbèi bùkān.
  • English: After the long journey, we were all unbearably exhausted.
  • Analysis: The structure `[Adjective] + 不堪 (bùkān)` means “unbearably [adjective]”. `疲惫不堪` is a common and strong collocation.
• Example 3:
  • 看到他脸上疲惫的表情，我就知道他最近一定很辛苦。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào tā liǎn shàng píbèi de biǎoqíng, wǒ jiù zhīdào tā zuìjìn yīdìng hěn xīnkǔ.
  • English: Seeing the exhausted expression on his face, I knew he must have been going through a hard time recently.
  • Analysis: Here, 疲惫 is used as an adjective to modify “expression” (`表情`), describing a visible state of weariness.
• Example 4:
  • 为了准备考试，他连续熬了好几个晚上，现在已经身心疲惫了。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi kǎoshì, tā liánxù áo le hǎojǐ gè wǎnshàng, xiànzài yǐjīng shēnxīn píbèi le.
  • English: In order to prepare for the exam, he stayed up for several nights in a row and is now mentally and physically exhausted.
  • Analysis: `身心疲惫 (shēn xīn píbèi)` is a very common four-character phrase meaning “body and mind exhausted,” perfectly capturing the dual nature of the word.
• Example 5:
  • 这段时间处理家里的事，让他感到心力交疲。
  • Pinyin: Zhè duàn shíjiān chǔlǐ jiālǐ de shì, ràng tā gǎndào xīnlìjiāocuì.
  • English: Dealing with family matters during this period has made him feel mentally and physically exhausted.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses a related idiom, `心力交瘁 (xīnlìjiāocuì)`, which literally means “heart's strength and energy are haggard and worn out.” It emphasizes emotional and mental exhaustion. Note the shared character 疲 is often written as 瘁 in this idiom. The meaning is very similar.
• Example 6:
  • 运动员在完成马拉松后，拖着疲惫的身体走向终点。
  • Pinyin: Yùndòngyuán zài wánchéng mǎlāsōng hòu, tuōzhe píbèi de shēntǐ zǒuxiàng zhōngdiǎn.
  • English: After finishing the marathon, the athlete dragged their exhausted body toward the finish line.
  • Analysis: This vividly paints a picture of extreme physical exhaustion, a perfect context for 疲惫.
• Example 7:
  • 无休止的争吵让他疲惫不堪。
  • Pinyin: Wúxiūzhǐ de zhēngchǎo ràng tā píbèi bùkān.
  • English: The endless arguing made him utterly exhausted.
  • Analysis: This shows that 疲惫 isn't just for physical states; it's extremely effective for describing emotional drainage.
• Example 8:
  • 尽管他很疲惫，但他还是坚持完成了工作。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn tā hěn píbèi, dànshì tā háishì jiānchí wánchéng le gōngzuò.
  • English: Although he was exhausted, he still persisted and finished the work.
  • Analysis: This sentence structure highlights the cultural value of endurance. Being 疲惫 is the obstacle, and `坚持 (jiānchí)` is the admirable action taken despite it.
• Example 9:
  • 在生活的重压下，他疲惫的眼神里透露出一丝无奈。
  • Pinyin: Zài shēnghuó de zhòngyā xià, tā píbèi de yǎnshén lǐ tòulù chū yīsī wúnài.
  • English: Under the heavy pressure of life, his exhausted eyes revealed a trace of helplessness.
  • Analysis: A more literary and descriptive use, linking the physical state of 疲惫 (seen in the eyes) to deeper emotional struggles.
• Example 10:
  • 我只是有点累，还没到疲惫的程度。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐshì yǒudiǎn lèi, hái méi dào píbèi de chéngdù.
  • English: I'm just a little tired, not to the point of being exhausted yet.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts `累 (lèi)` and 疲惫 (píbèi), showing that 疲惫 is on a higher level of intensity.

• `疲惫 (píbèi)` vs. `累 (lèi)`: This is the most critical distinction.
  • `累 (lèi)`: The default, everyday word for “tired.” It's informal and highly versatile. Use it when you're tired from a normal day's work, after some light exercise, or when you just feel a bit worn out. (e.g., `我今天好累。` - I'm so tired today.)
  • `疲惫 (píbèi)`: Stronger, more formal, and implies a deeper level of exhaustion affecting body and mind. Using it for a minor inconvenience sounds overly dramatic.
  • Incorrect Usage: `我走上楼，感觉很疲惫。` (I walked upstairs and feel very exhausted.)
  • Why it's wrong: Walking up a flight of stairs would make you `累`, not `疲惫`. This usage is unnatural and sounds like you're exaggerating. The correct, natural way would be: `我走上楼，感觉很累。`
• `疲惫 (píbèi)` vs. `困 (kùn)`:
  • `困 (kùn)` means “sleepy.” It's the physical sensation of needing to sleep (your eyelids feel heavy). You can be `困` without being `疲惫` (e.g., in a boring meeting). You can also be `疲惫` without being `困` (e.g., you're “wired but tired” after a stressful event). Don't use `疲惫` when you simply mean you need to go to bed.

• 累 (lèi) - The most common and general word for “tired.” 疲惫 is a stronger, more formal synonym.
• 疲劳 (píláo) - “Fatigue.” Very similar to 疲惫, but often used in more technical or medical contexts (e.g., `驾驶疲劳` - driving fatigue, `肌肉疲劳` - muscle fatigue).
• 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) - “Hard; toilsome; laborious.” This describes the *cause* of the exhaustion, not the feeling itself. It's often used to thank someone for their hard work (e.g., `辛苦你了！` - Thank you for your hard work!).
• 劳累 (láolèi) - “Tired from exertion; overworked.” Similar to 疲惫, but with a stronger emphasis on physical labor (`劳`).
• 困 (kùn) - “Sleepy.” Refers specifically to the desire or need to sleep.
• 筋疲力尽 (jīn pí lì jìn) - A chengyu (idiom) meaning “tendons weary, strength exhausted.” An extremely vivid and powerful synonym for being completely wiped out.
• 身心俱疲 (shēn xīn jù pí) - An idiom meaning “body and mind are both exhausted.” A more formal and literary way to say `身心疲惫`.
• 吃苦耐劳 (chīkǔ nàiláo) - An idiom describing the cultural virtue of being able to “eat bitterness and endure hardship,” which often results in the state of 疲惫.