竭 jié to exhaust
How to remember 竭: 立 stand + 曷 a drink = to exhaust. After the marathon the runner can barely stand, gulps a drink of water and says "That race was enough to exhaust me for a year."
Component breakdown
竭 = 立 stand + 曷 a drink
- 立 stand
- 曷 a drink
After the marathon the runner can barely stand, gulps a drink of water and says "That race was enough to exhaust me for a year."
How it is used
- To exhaust / use up completely - 竭尽全力 (jiéjìn-quánlì) / 竭力 (jiélì) to do one's utmost, 枯竭 (kūjié) drained/depleted (资源枯竭 depleted resources), 衰竭 (shuāijié) (organ) failure.
- 声嘶力竭 (shēngsī-lìjié) means shouting till hoarse and spent; 精疲力竭 (jīngpí-lìjié) means utterly exhausted.