Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
泄气 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
泄气xièqìto leak (gas)HSK 7, v, rank #12835, Hard
泄气xièqìto be discouragedHSK 7, v, rank #12835, Hard
泄气xièqìto despairHSK 7, v, rank #12835, Hard
泄气xièqì(disparaging) patheticHSK 7, v, rank #12835, Hard
泄气xièqìto vent one's angerHSK 7, v, rank #12835, Hard
泄气xièqì(of a tire) to be flatHSK 7, v, rank #12835, Hard
xièqì(xie4qi4) T4
  1. 1to leak (gas)
  2. 2to be discouraged
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
泄气(洩氣)xièqì(xie4qi4)

The term '泄气' (xie4 qi4) primarily means to leak air or gas. Figuratively, it conveys feelings of discouragement or despair, often used when someone feels defeated or hopeless. In casual contexts, it can also express the idea of venting frustration or anger.

Frequency#12835DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

'泄气' reflects a common sentiment in Chinese culture where persistence is valued. The expression is often used to encourage resilience in the face of challenges, resonating with the cultural value of perseverance (坚持).

Memory Tip

Imagine a balloon (气) that's leaking (泄) air, making a sad sound. You can visualize the balloon becoming deflated, representing feelings of discouragement. The sound 'xie' can remind you of 'shedding' air, connecting it to both the literal and figurative meanings.

Meanings of 泄气

xièqì(xie4qi4)
1to leak (gas)
2to be discouraged
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 泄气

泄气Simplified
洩氣Traditional
Strokes
Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#12835Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 泄气

JasonAmy

Podcast: 泄气

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 泄气

Quick Contrast

气馁 (qì nǎi) - use '泄气' for a more casual expression of discouragement, while '气馁' carries a slightly more formal tone of being dispirited.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a balloon (气) that's leaking (泄) air, making a sad sound. You can visualize the balloon becoming deflated, representing feelings of discouragement. The sound 'xie' can remind you of 'shedding' air, connecting it to both the literal and figurative meanings.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse '泄气' with similar-sounding phrases. This term is informal and often used in spoken language to convey emotional states, so avoid using it in very formal writing. Common collocations include '泄气的情绪' (feelings of discouragement) and '不要泄气' (don't be discouraged).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, '泄气' connects with other expressions of emotion and physical states. Focus on its usage in conversations about feelings and frustrations. Practicing sentences that involve both its literal and figurative meanings can enhance understanding.

Cultural Note

'泄气' reflects a common sentiment in Chinese culture where persistence is valued. The expression is often used to encourage resilience in the face of challenges, resonating with the cultural value of perseverance (坚持).

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse '泄气' by applying it in overly formal contexts, such as in academic writing. An incorrect example would be: '在这次考试中,我感到很泄气' (I feel very discouraged in this exam) — better phrased as '在这次考试中,我感到很沮丧'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 泄气

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 泄气 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

xièto leak (of water or gas)
HSK 78 strokes
View full entry
gas
HSK 44 strokes
View full entry

Write 泄气

Practice writing 泄气 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 泄气

泄气 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 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 3

Complete the Sentence

我深感____地回去把这消息告诉了比尔。

Despondently, I went back and told Bill the news.

Example Sentences for 泄气 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我深感泄气地回去把这消息告诉了比尔。

wǒ shēn gǎn xiè qì dì huí qù bǎ zhè xiāo xī gào sù le bǐ ěr。

Despondently, I went back and told Bill the news.
2
微弱的掌声叫我们泄气.

wēi ruò de zhǎng shēng jiào wǒ mén xiè qì.

The feeble applause disheartened us.

Cultural Notes for 泄气

🏮Cultural insight

'泄气' reflects a common sentiment in Chinese culture where persistence is valued. The expression is often used to encourage resilience in the face of challenges, resonating with the cultural value of perseverance (坚持).

Frequently Asked Questions about 泄气

It literally means 'to leak air or gas', often referring to a tire or balloon.