Meanings of 瘪
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About 瘪
Podcast: 瘪
Podcast: 瘪
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AI Study Notes for 瘪
瘪 (biě) vs 干 (gān) — use 瘪 for something that is shriveled or sunken, while 干 refers to something that is dry but not necessarily sunken.
Be cautious when using 瘪 to describe emotions, as it can sound informal or colloquial. It's commonly paired with words like 'fruit' or 'balloon' to describe their state. The tone is crucial; using the wrong tone may lead to misunderstandings.
While 瘪 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to other descriptive terms at similar levels, such as 干 (gān, dry) or 空 (kōng, empty). Focus on recognizing its usage in context, especially in colloquial speech.
Learners often confuse 瘪 with its variant 癟 (biě) due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '这颗苹果瘪了' (This apple is flat) is correct, while using it in a formal context can sound awkward.
Pronunciation of 瘪
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Etymology of 瘪
sickness
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 瘪
- 1The meaning half疒 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half自 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaysickness
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 瘪? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 瘪
Identify the Components
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How to say shriveled, dried up; vexed in Chinese
“shriveled, dried up; vexed” in Chinese is瘪
The character 瘪 (biě) primarily describes something that is shriveled, dried up, or sunken, often referring to fruits or objects that have lost their fullness. It can also convey a sense of vexation or emptiness. In informal contexts, it may describe feelings of disappointment or dissatisfaction.
When to use 瘪
Be cautious when using 瘪 to describe emotions, as it can sound informal or colloquial. It's commonly paired with words like 'fruit' or 'balloon' to describe their state. The tone is crucial; using the wrong tone may lead to misunderstandings.
瘪 or something close to it
瘪 (biě) vs 干 (gān) — use 瘪 for something that is shriveled or sunken, while 干 refers to something that is dry but not necessarily sunken.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 瘪 with its variant 癟 (biě) due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '这颗苹果瘪了' (This apple is flat) is correct, while using it in a formal context can sound awkward.
Write 瘪
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Practice writing 瘪 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 瘪
瘪 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
他的冰箱里除了3个非常干____的西红柿外已经空空如也。
His fridge was bare apart from three very withered tomatoes.
Example Sentences for 瘪 (4)
Word Family of 瘪
Compound Meaning
What does 瘪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瘪
Yes, it can describe feelings of vexation or disappointment, but be aware that it's informal.
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