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March 24, 2026
瘪(㿜)biě(bie3)
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.
Strokes15Radical疒Frequency#14527DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the condition of fruits often symbolizes prosperity or lack thereof; thus, describing something as 瘪 can carry connotations of misfortune or disappointment. This is particularly relevant during festive seasons when food quality is highly valued.
Memory Tip
Imagine a deflated balloon that has lost its air and is all wrinkled; this visual helps connect the character 瘪 to its meaning of being shriveled or sunken. The left side of the character (病) suggests illness, which can relate to something 'sickly' like a wilted fruit.
Meanings of 瘪
biě(bie3)
1shriveled, dried up; vexed
2sunken
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 瘪
瘪Simplified
㿜Traditional
15Strokes
疒Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 瘪
Podcast: 瘪
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AI Study Notes for 瘪
Quick Contrast
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.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a deflated balloon that has lost its air and is all wrinkled; this visual helps connect the character 瘪 to its meaning of being shriveled or sunken. The left side of the character (病) suggests illness, which can relate to something 'sickly' like a wilted fruit.
Usage Notes
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.
HSK Study Tips
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.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the condition of fruits often symbolizes prosperity or lack thereof; thus, describing something as 瘪 can carry connotations of misfortune or disappointment. This is particularly relevant during festive seasons when food quality is highly valued.
Common Mistakes
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.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 瘪
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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.
Exercise 1 of 4
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)
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1
他的冰箱里除了3个非常干瘪的西红柿外已经空空如也。
tā de bīng xiāng lǐ chú le3 3 gè fēi cháng gān biē de xī hóng shì wài yǐ jīng kōng kōng rú。
His fridge was bare apart from three very withered tomatoes.
2
干瘪老妇人
gān biē lǎo fù rén
a shrunken old woman
3
当她把烟吸进肺里时，她的双颊瘪了下去。
dāng tā bǎ yān xī jìn fèi lǐ shí， ， tā de shuāng jiá biē le xià。
Her cheeks hollowed as she drew smoke into her lungs.
The front and rear of the car will crumple during a collision.
Cultural Notes for 瘪
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the condition of fruits often symbolizes prosperity or lack thereof; thus, describing something as 瘪 can carry connotations of misfortune or disappointment. This is particularly relevant during festive seasons when food quality is highly valued.
Word Family of 瘪
Words Containing This Character4
瘪biědeflated癟
瘪三(Wu dialect) bum癟三
干瘪dried out乾癟
瘪陷deflated癟陷
Exercise 1 of 4
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.
No, 瘪 is typically used in informal contexts and may not be suitable for formal writing.
You might consider using 干 (gān, dry) or 空 (kōng, empty) depending on the context.
