馁 (něi) - Hungry & famished

馁Tone 3

něi ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

楠念

馁 · něi

Hungry;

famished;

discouraged;

disheartened;

to lose heart;

(of food) spoiled;

rotten.

Hungryfamisheddiscouraged

Usage highlights

DiscouragedHungry and coldSpoiled fishNot discouragedLose heartSelf

Synonyms

  • 饿— hungry
  • 饥— famine; hungry
  • 沮— dejected; discouraged

Antonyms

  • 饱— full; satisfied
  • 骄— proud; arrogant (in the context of 胜不骄)
  • 振— vibrant; encouraged

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The child felt hungry and tired (饥饿又疲惫).
  • Don't be discouraged by failure (不要因失败而气馁).
  • The meat has gone bad (肉已经馁了).
  • He never loses heart in the face of difficulties (面对困难他从不气馁).

Collocations

  • Discouraged(气馁)
  • Hungry and cold(饥馁)
  • Spoiled fish(鱼馁)
  • Not discouraged(不馁)
  • Lose heart(失馁)
  • Self-confidence without discouragement(自馁)

Idioms

  • Victorious without pride, defeated without discouragement(胜不骄，败不馁)
  • Never be discouraged in the face of setbacks(挫而不馁)
  • Persevere without giving up(坚持不懈，永不言馁)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant physical hunger, later extended to psychological discouragement.
  • In Confucian culture, maintaining mental fortitude without discouragement is highly valued.
  • The idiom '胜不骄，败不馁' embodies traditional virtues of moderation and perseverance.

FAQ