Meaning
耗 means to consume or use up resources, especially in a wasteful or exhausting manner. It often carries a sense of depletion—whether of time, energy, money, or materials. The character is commonly seen in compound words related to consumption and expenditure.
Usage
While 耗 can stand alone as a verb, it's much more commonly used in compound words like 消耗 (to consume), 耗费 (to expend), and 耗时 (time-consuming). In modern usage, it frequently appears in contexts discussing resource consumption, efficiency, and waste. The standalone character tends to appear in more formal or written contexts.
Examples
- 01这个项目耗费了大量的人力和物力。.This project consumed a large amount of manpower and material resources.
- 02长时间运动会消耗很多体能。.Extended exercise will consume a lot of physical energy.
Common collocations
- 耗尽to exhaust, to use up completely
- 消耗能量to consume energy
- 耗费时间to spend/waste time
- 能耗energy consumption
Antonyms
Origin
The character 耗 originally depicted grain being consumed or eaten away by mice or pests. The left radical 耒 relates to agriculture/grain, while the right component suggests consumption or loss, giving the character its meaning of depletion and waste.