Definitions
(adjective)
lacking; short of
(adjective)
tired; fatigued
Etymology
Derived from 正, but with the line on top slanted to indicate "crooked (i.e. not straight)". The meaning later shifted to "lack".
About
The character "乏" derives its fundamental concept from being an inverted form of "正", which conveys uprightness or correctness, thereby establishing its early meaning of lack or deviation from a standard. Its structure has remained largely unchanged, representing a simple ideograph that visually suggests this reversal. Originally denoting a state of deficiency or shortage in a material sense, the character's meaning gradually broadened to include abstract and physiological shortfalls, particularly the experience of fatigue, as evidenced in terms such as "疲乏". This semantic expansion illustrates how the core idea of absence naturally extended to describe the depletion of energy or resources over time, while the character's form persisted without notable modification.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他缺乏经验。
这项工作很乏味。
我疲乏得想睡觉。
缺乏睡眠会导致疲乏。
他的演讲内容贫乏。
这种食物缺乏营养。
长期疲乏可能影响健康。
缺乏有效的沟通会导致误解。