竭

jié

曷 + 立

Definitions

jié (verb) to exhaust; to use up; to deplete

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 立 represents the meaning and 曷 represents the sound.

Semantic: 立 Phonetic: 曷

About

竭 is a phono-semantic compound character. Its left side, 立, originally depicts a person standing, but in this context it conveys the idea of physical exertion, as if straining under a burden. The right side, 曷, supplies the sound while historically carrying the meaning 'what?' or 'stop,' suggesting the moment when one can go no further. Together they express complete exhaustion: using up all one's physical strength, draining natural resources, or drying up water sources entirely. The character captures a state where nothing remains and the absolute limit of endurance has been reached. Thus, 竭 denotes total depletion and the point where capacity is fully spent.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他学习时竭尽全力。

Tā xuéxí shí jié jìn quán lì.

He gives his all when studying.

整个社区竭力帮助受灾家庭。

Zhěnggè shèqū jiélì bāngzhù shòuzāi jiātíng.

The entire community strives to help the affected families.

团队必须竭诚合作才能成功。

Tuánduì bìxū jiéchéng hézuò cáinéng chénggōng.

The team must cooperate with utmost sincerity to succeed.

保护水资源，防止其枯竭。

Bǎohù shuǐ zīyuán, fángzhǐ qí kūjié.

Protect water resources to prevent their depletion.

诗人用尽了他创造的才思，终于衰竭了。

Shīrén yòngjìnle tā chuàngzào de cáisī, zhōngyú shuāijiéle.

The poet exhausted his creative talent and finally became depleted.

政府承诺将竭尽所能改善民生。

Zhèngfǔ chéngnuò jiāng jiéjìnsuǒnéng gǎishàn mínshēng.

The government promised to do everything in its power to improve people's livelihoods.

他的生命之火虽弱，却永不竭灭。

Tā de shēngmìng zhī huǒ suī ruò, què yǒng bù jié miè.

The flame of his life, though weak, will never be extinguished.

这种竭泽而渔的发展模式是不可持续的。

Zhè zhǒng jié zé ér yú de fāzhǎn móshì shì bù kě chíxù de.

This development model of draining the pond to get the fish is unsustainable.

Related Characters

Component: 曷

Component: 立

竭