罄 (qìng) - to use up & to exhaust

罄Tone 4

qìng ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

情仁

罄 · qìng

to use up;

to exhaust;

to be depleted;

empty;

hollow;

also refers to a type of ancient stone chime.

to use upto exhaustto be depleted

Usage highlights

to use up completelyto be exhaustedto exhaust one's resourcesto sell off all one's propertyto be completely emptystone chime

Synonyms

  • 尽— to exhaust; to use up
  • 竭— to drain; to exhaust
  • 空— empty; hollow

Antonyms

  • 盈— full; abundant
  • 满— filled; complete
  • 余— surplus; remainder

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Our supplies are completely exhausted (罄尽).
  • The funds have been used up (告罄).
  • He sold all his property (罄其所有).
  • The room was completely empty (室如悬罄).

Collocations

  • to use up completely(罄尽)
  • to be exhausted(告罄)
  • to exhaust one's resources(罄竭)
  • to sell off all one's property(罄售)
  • to be completely empty(罄空)
  • stone chime(石罄)

Idioms

  • The room is as empty as a hanging chime — extreme poverty(室如悬罄)
  • To exhaust bamboo for writing — to list all crimes(罄竹难书)
  • To exhaust one's resources(财殚力罄)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to a hollow stone chime used in ancient Chinese rituals and music.
  • The character contains the 'stone' radical 石, reflecting its original connection to stone instruments.
  • The idiom '罄竹难书' (too numerous to record) has strong negative connotations, often used to describe heinous crimes.

FAQ