lèi / lěi: 累 - Tired, Weary; To Accumulate

Keywords: 累 pinyin, 累 meaning, how to say tired in Chinese, lei Chinese, Chinese word for tired, Chinese word for exhausted, tired in Mandarin, 心累 (xīn lèi), 辛苦 vs 累, 累 lèi, 累 lěi, accumulate in Chinese, Chinese grammar.

Summary: Discover the essential Chinese word 累 (lèi), the most common way to say you're tired, weary, or exhausted in Mandarin. This guide explores not only how to express physical fatigue but also the culturally significant concept of being “heart-tired” (心累, xīn lèi). We'll also uncover its second, less common pronunciation, lěi, which means “to accumulate.” Learn the difference between 累 and 辛苦 (xīnkǔ), see practical examples, and understand why this simple word is key to expressing daily life and deeper emotions in Chinese culture.

Pinyin (with tone marks): lèi / lěi

Part of Speech: Adjective (for lèi) / Verb (for lěi)

HSK Level: HSK 1 (for lèi)

Concise Definition: (lèi) To be tired, fatigued, or weary; (lěi) to accumulate or pile up.

In a Nutshell: 累 (lèi) is your go-to word in Chinese for feeling tired. It's the word you use after a long day of work, a tough workout, or not getting enough sleep. It perfectly captures that feeling of physical or mental drain. While its primary meaning is “tired,” the same character can also be pronounced lěi to mean “to accumulate,” like accumulating wealth or experience. For a beginner, mastering lèi (tired) is the most important first step.

When you combine them, you get the powerful image of being worn out from working in the fields (田) until your body feels bound and tangled like thread (糸). This paints a vivid picture of exhaustion, the core meaning of lèi.

In Chinese culture, hard work and perseverance are deeply held values, often summed up by the concept of 吃苦 (chī kǔ), which literally means “to eat bitterness.” Admitting you are 累 (lèi) is not seen as a complaint or a sign of weakness, but rather as an honest acknowledgement of the effort you've put in. It's a shared human experience that connects people.

Comparison to Western Culture: In American culture, saying “I'm tired” often leads to advice like, “You should get some rest” or “Take a vacation,” reflecting a strong emphasis on work-life balance. While this is also true in modern China, stating you are 累 (lèi) can also be a way of signaling your dedication and sacrifice for a greater goal, like supporting your family or succeeding at work. It can evoke a sense of shared struggle and mutual respect for each other's hard work, rather than an immediate call to stop working.

A particularly modern and culturally significant term is 心累 (xīn lèi), or “heart-tired.” This describes a profound emotional and mental exhaustion from social pressures, complicated relationships, or the relentless pace of modern life. It's a feeling that goes beyond simple physical fatigue and speaks to a deeper, more existential weariness that is widely discussed on Chinese social media.

Expressing Everyday Fatigue: 累 (lèi) is used constantly in daily conversation. It's informal and suitable for any situation where you'd say “I'm tired” in English. The most common way to say this is “我很累 (Wǒ hěn lèi).”

Exaggeration and Emphasis: Chinese speakers often use hyperbole for emphasis. A very common phrase is 累死了! (Lèi sǐ le!), which literally means “tired to death!” It's used informally among friends and family to mean “I'm totally exhausted!”

The “lěi” Pronunciation: You will encounter the `lěi` pronunciation in more formal or written contexts, often as part of a two-character word like 积累 (jīlěi), meaning “to accumulate.” As a beginner, you don't need to use it in conversation often, but it's important to recognize it.

The Pronunciation Trap: Remember that the same character 累 has two pronunciations tied to two different meanings. If you're talking about being tired, it's always lèi (4th tone). If you see it in a word like 积累 (to accumulate), it's lěi (3rd tone). Don't mix them up!

Don't Use `累` for “Boring” or “Tiresome”: You cannot say a book or a movie “is tired” (这本书很累 - Incorrect). You should say the activity of reading it is tiring (“看这本书很累” - Kàn zhè běn shū hěn lèi) or that the book is boring (“这本书很无聊” - Zhè běn shū hěn wúliáo).

辛苦 (xīnkǔ) - Hard, toilsome, arduous. Describes the cause of feeling `累`. Often used to thank someone for their effort.

疲劳 (píláo) - Fatigue. A more formal or medical term for being tired than `累`.

疲惫 (píbèi) - Exhausted, worn out. A stronger and more literary word for `累`.

心累 (xīn lèi) - “Heart-tired.” The specific feeling of being mentally or emotionally drained.

休息 (xiūxi) - To rest. The natural solution when you feel `累`.

吃苦 (chī kǔ) - “To eat bitterness.” The cultural value of enduring hardship, which often leads to feeling `累`.

积累 (jīlěi) - To accumulate. A key vocabulary word that uses the `lěi` pronunciation.

劳累 (láolèi) - Fatigued, overworked. Very similar to `累`, but slightly more formal and emphasizes the connection to labor (劳).