jīnpílìjìn: 筋疲力尽 - Exhausted, Worn Out, Spent

• Keywords: jin pi li jin, 筋疲力尽, exhausted in Chinese, very tired in Chinese, chengyu for tired, Chinese idiom for exhaustion, how to say wiped out in Chinese, Chinese grammar, 筋疲力盡.
• Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) 筋疲力尽 (jīnpílìjìn), used to describe a state of complete physical and mental exhaustion. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical use with 10+ example sentences, helping you understand when to use this vivid term instead of just saying “I'm tired.” Go beyond basic vocabulary and master this essential expression for describing being utterly drained or spent.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jīn pí lì jìn
• Part of Speech: 成语 (chéngyǔ) - Idiom. It functions as an adjective or a resultative complement.
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To be completely exhausted; to have one's muscles and strength entirely used up.
• In a Nutshell: This isn't your everyday “I'm tired.” 筋疲力尽 (jīnpílìjìn) describes a profound state of exhaustion where you feel you have absolutely nothing left to give, physically or mentally. Imagine the feeling after running a marathon, pulling an all-nighter for a critical exam, or taking care of a sick child for days. It's a deep, bone-weary exhaustion that goes far beyond simply needing a nap.

• 筋 (jīn): Tendons or muscles. Think of the “sinews” that hold you together.
• 疲 (pí): Tired, fatigued, or weary. This character is all about the feeling of being worn out.
• 力 (lì): Strength, power, or energy.
• 尽 (jìn): To use up completely, to exhaust, to come to an end.

These four characters combine to paint a very literal and vivid picture: “The muscles are weary, and the strength is completely used up.” This makes the idiom easy to understand and remember. You're not just tired; your very physical resources are depleted.

筋疲力尽 (jīnpílìjìn) is more than just a phrase; it's a reflection of cultural values surrounding hard work and perseverance. In Chinese culture, the concept of 吃苦 (chīkǔ)—literally “to eat bitterness”—is often seen as a virtue. It means enduring hardship and pushing oneself to the limit in pursuit of a goal, whether it's academic success, career advancement, or supporting one's family. Therefore, saying you are 筋疲力尽 can sometimes carry a subtle undertone of pride. It implies you've given your all to a worthy cause. For example, a student studying for the grueling 高考 (gāokǎo) (college entrance exam) or an employee working overtime (加班 (jiābān)) to finish a project might describe themselves as 筋疲力尽 to signify their dedication. A useful Western comparison is the concept of “burnout.” However, they are not identical. “Burnout” typically refers to a chronic, long-term state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, often leading to cynicism and detachment. 筋疲力尽 can describe this, but it can also describe a more acute, short-term exhaustion from a specific, intense effort (like a single grueling day). 筋疲力尽 focuses on the depletion of energy, while “burnout” focuses more on the psychological consequences of that depletion over time.

This idiom is widely used in both spoken and written Chinese and is appropriate for most situations, from casual conversation to more formal contexts. It adds a dramatic and descriptive flair that 我好累 (wǒ hǎo lèi - I'm so tired) lacks.

• In Daily Conversation: People use it to describe their state after a long day of shopping, a tough workout, or dealing with a difficult personal matter. It's an expressive way to communicate extreme fatigue to friends and family.
• In the Workplace: An employee might tell a colleague, “这个项目终于做完了，我已经筋疲力尽了 (This project is finally done, I'm completely spent).” It signals immense effort and justifies the need for rest.
• On Social Media: It's common to see posts after a long holiday travel period or a stressful week with a photo and a caption like “回到家了，筋疲力尽！ (Made it home, totally wiped out!).”

The connotation is generally negative (it's not pleasant to be exhausted), but as mentioned, it can be used to frame that exhaustion as a result of commendable effort.

• Example 1:
  • 连续工作了十二个小时后，他感到筋疲力尽。
  • Pinyin: Liánxù gōngzuò le shí'èr ge xiǎoshí hòu, tā gǎndào jīnpílìjìn.
  • English: After working for twelve hours straight, he felt completely exhausted.
  • Analysis: A straightforward example showing the feeling of exhaustion after a long period of work.
• Example 2:
  • 跑完马拉松，每个运动员都累得筋疲力尽。
  • Pinyin: Pǎo wán mǎlāsōng, měi ge yùndòngyuán dōu lèi de jīnpílìjìn.
  • English: After finishing the marathon, every athlete was utterly exhausted.
  • Analysis: This is a key grammar structure. The phrase is used as a complement with `得 (de)` to describe the degree of tiredness (`累 de`).
• Example 3:
  • 为了准备高考，姐姐每天学习到深夜，现在已经筋疲力尽了。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi gāokǎo, jiějie měitiān xuéxí dào shēnyè, xiànzài yǐjīng jīnpílìjìn le.
  • English: In order to prepare for the college entrance exam, my older sister studies late into the night every day and is now completely drained.
  • Analysis: This connects the term to the cultural phenomenon of the Gaokao, highlighting the immense pressure and effort involved.
• Example 4:
  • 照顾新生儿让这对新父母筋疲力尽，但他们觉得很幸福。
  • Pinyin: Zhàogù xīnshēng'ér ràng zhè duì xīn fùmǔ jīnpílìjìn, dàn tāmen juéde hěn xìngfú.
  • English: Taking care of the newborn left the new parents exhausted, but they felt very happy.
  • Analysis: Shows that the state of being 筋疲力尽 can coexist with positive emotions like happiness.
• Example 5:
  • 我只是有点累，还没到筋疲力尽的程度。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐshì yǒudiǎn lèi, hái méi dào jīnpílìjìn de chéngdù.
  • English: I'm just a little tired, not to the point of being completely exhausted.
  • Analysis: This sentence is great for learners as it explicitly contrasts “a little tired” (有点累) with the extremity of 筋疲力尽.
• Example 6:
  • 经过一整天的徒步旅行，我们所有人都筋疲力尽地回到了营地。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò yī zhěng tiān de túbù lǚxíng, wǒmen suǒyǒu rén dōu jīnpílìjìn de huídàole yíngdì.
  • English: After a full day of hiking, all of us returned to the campsite, completely spent.
  • Analysis: Here, `筋疲力尽地 (jīnpílìjìn de)` functions as an adverb, describing how they returned to the camp.
• Example 7:
  • 这个季度我们团队拼尽了全力，现在大家都筋疲力尽了，需要好好休息一下。
  • Pinyin: Zhège jìdù wǒmen tuánduì pīn jìn le quánlì, xiànzài dàjiā dōu jīnpílìjìn le, xūyào hǎohǎo xiūxi yīxià.
  • English: Our team gave its all this quarter, and now everyone is completely worn out and needs a good rest.
  • Analysis: A typical example from a business or work context, highlighting collective effort.
• Example 8:
  • 跟孩子们玩了一天，我感觉自己的精力都被耗尽，真是筋疲力尽。
  • Pinyin: Gēn háizimen wán le yītiān, wǒ gǎnjué zìjǐ de jīnglì dōu bèi hào jìn, zhēnshi jīnpílìjìn.
  • English: After playing with the kids all day, I feel like all my energy has been drained; I'm truly exhausted.
  • Analysis: A relatable, everyday scenario. The phrase `精力都被耗尽 (jīnglì dōu bèi hào jìn - energy all used up)` reinforces the meaning of the idiom.
• Example 9:
  • 医生警告他，如果再这样不休息，他很快就会筋疲力尽，甚至病倒。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng jǐnggào tā, rúguǒ zài zhèyàng bù xiūxi, tā hěn kuài jiù huì jīnpílìjìn, shènzhì bìng dǎo.
  • English: The doctor warned him that if he continues on without resting, he will soon be completely exhausted and even fall ill.
  • Analysis: This example shows the term used in a more serious, health-related context.
• Example 10:
  • 经历了漫长而艰苦的谈判，双方代表都显得筋疲力尽。
  • Pinyin: Jīnglìle màncháng ér jiānkǔ de tánpàn, shuāngfāng dàibiǎo dōu xiǎnde jīnpílìjìn.
  • English: After the long and arduous negotiations, the representatives from both sides appeared utterly exhausted.
  • Analysis: `显得 (xiǎnde)` means “to appear” or “to seem,” showing how someone looks from the outside.

• Don't Overuse It: The most common mistake is using 筋疲力尽 for mild tiredness. It's a powerful, dramatic word. If you just had a long day at the office and feel a bit tired, 我有点累 (wǒ yǒudiǎn lèi) or 我好累 (wǒ hǎo lèi) is more appropriate. Save 筋疲力尽 for when you are truly, profoundly wiped out.
  • Incorrect: 昨天睡了七个小时，今天还是觉得筋疲力尽。 (Zuótiān shuìle qī ge xiǎoshí, jīntiān háishì juéde jīnpílìjìn.) - This sounds overly dramatic for just getting 7 hours of sleep.
  • Correct: 我只睡了两个小时，感觉筋疲力尽。 (Wǒ zhǐ shuìle liǎng ge xiǎoshí, gǎnjué jīnpílìjìn.) - This level of sleep deprivation justifies the term.
• Grammar: Adjective, not a Verb: Remember that 筋疲力尽 describes a state. You cannot “筋疲力尽 your work.” It's often used after a verb with the particle `得 (de)` to show the result or extent of an action.
  • Incorrect: 我筋疲力尽了我的工作。 (Wǒ jīnpílìjìn le wǒ de gōngzuò.)
  • Correct: 工作把我累得筋疲力尽。 (Gōngzuò bǎ wǒ lèi de jīnpílìjìn.) - The work made me exhausted.
• “False Friend” with “Tired”: While it translates to “exhausted,” think of it as “spent” or “drained.” “Tired” in English can be casual. 筋疲力尽 is never casual. It signals the bottom of your energy reserves.

• 累 (lèi): The most basic and common word for “tired.” It's the go-to term for everyday fatigue.
• 疲劳 (píláo): Fatigue, weariness. More formal and often used in medical or scientific contexts (e.g., `驾驶疲劳` - driving fatigue). Less emotional than 筋疲力尽.
• 疲惫 (píbèi): A very strong synonym for “exhausted” or “worn out.” It's a 2-character word that is very close in intensity to 筋疲力尽.
• 精疲力竭 (jīng pí lì jié): An almost identical chengyu. 精 (jīng) means “spirit/essence,” so it means “spirit fatigued and strength depleted.” It's perfectly interchangeable with 筋疲力尽.
• 无精打采 (wú jīng dǎ cǎi): Listless, lethargic, dispirited. This describes the outward appearance and mood of being tired, whereas 筋疲力尽 describes the internal state of energy depletion.
• 精力充沛 (jīnglì chōngpèi): The direct antonym. It means “full of energy, vigorous, dynamic.”
• 吃苦 (chīkǔ): “To eat bitterness.” The cultural value of enduring hardship, which often leads to the state of being 筋疲力尽.
• 加班 (jiābān): To work overtime. A frequent cause of being 筋疲力尽 in modern China.