乏

fá

丿 + 之

Definitions

fá (adjective) lacking; short of

fá (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

乏 derives from 正, but with its top stroke slanted to suggest "crooked" (i.e., not straight). This idea of being awry evolved into a general sense of lacking or being deficient, whether in resources like money and supplies, or in innate ability. Over time, the character also came to describe physical or mental exhaustion, the tiredness that follows prolonged effort. The development thus moves from an external shortfall to an internal state of depleted energy.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他缺乏经验。

Tā quēfá jīngyàn.

He lacks experience.

这项工作很乏味。

Zhè xiàng gōngzuò hěn fáwèi.

This work is very dull.

我疲乏得想睡觉。

Wǒ pífá de xiǎng shuìjiào.

I am so fatigued that I want to sleep.

缺乏睡眠会导致疲乏。

Quēfá shuìmián huì dǎozhì pífá.

Lack of sleep can lead to fatigue.

他的演讲内容贫乏。

Tā de yǎnjiǎng nèiróng pínfá.

His speech content is poor.

这种食物缺乏营养。

Zhè zhǒng shíwù quēfá yíngyǎng.

This kind of food lacks nutrition.

长期疲乏可能影响健康。

Chángqī pífá kěnéng yǐngxiǎng jiànkāng.

Long-term fatigue may affect health.

缺乏有效的沟通会导致误解。

Quēfá yǒuxiào de gōutōng huì dǎozhì wùjiě.

Lack of effective communication can lead to misunderstandings.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丿

Component: 之

乏