乏 (fá) - to lack & to be short of

乏Tone 2

fá ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 丿

恩丰

乏 · fá

to lack;

to be short of;

tired;

weary;

poor

to lackto be short oftired

Usage highlights

lack of strengthpoor and destitutetired and wearyshort of moneylack of talentmonotonous and boring

Synonyms

  • 缺— to lack; to be short of
  • 少— few; little; lacking
  • 贫— poor; impoverished
  • 疲— tired; weary

Antonyms

  • 富— rich; wealthy; abundant
  • 足— sufficient; ample
  • 盈— full; overflowing
  • 充— full; sufficient

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is lacking in energy (乏力).
  • We are short of funds (资金匮乏).
  • She feels tired and weary (疲乏).
  • This area suffers from water shortage (缺水乏水).

Collocations

  • lack of strength(乏力)
  • poor and destitute(贫乏)
  • tired and weary(疲乏)
  • short of money(乏钱)
  • lack of talent(乏才)
  • monotonous and boring(乏味)

Idioms

  • Lack of talent and learning(才疏学乏)
  • Poor and destitute(贫乏不堪)
  • Tired and listless(困乏无力)
  • Monotonous and boring(枯燥乏味)
  • Lack of energy and spirit(精神乏乏)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a person bending forward, suggesting exhaustion or deficiency.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, avoiding '乏' in names is common as it carries negative connotations of lack and weakness.
  • Used in economic contexts to describe scarcity of resources or poverty.

FAQ