无精打采

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: wú jīng dǎ cǎi
• English Translation: Lacking energy, listless, dispirited
• Idiom Composition: 「无」（Without, lacking）＋「精」（Energy, vigor）＋「打」（To emit, to show）＋「采」（Spirit, vitality）
• Meaning: Describes a state of lacking energy and spirit, appearing listless or dispirited. It refers to a condition of physical or mental fatigue, discouragement, or lack of vitality.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「无精打采」 contains the following nuances:

• Lack of vitality: Indicates a state of insufficient physical or mental energy, resulting in inactivity.
• Loss of motivation: Shows a lack of desire or will to do something, reflecting low motivation.
• Discouragement and disappointment: Implies a state of losing energy due to discouragement or disappointment for some reason.
• Fatigue: May also describe a feeling of tiredness or weariness caused by accumulated fatigue.

3. Usage

「无精打采」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing a state: Used to objectively describe someone who appears to lack energy.
  • Example:「他因为昨晚没睡好，今天看起来无精打采的。」
    （He looks listless today because he didn't sleep well last night.）
• Explaining the cause: Used to explain the reason behind someone's lack of energy.
  • Example:「考试没考好，小明这几天一直无精打采。」
    （Xiaoming has been feeling down these days because he didn't do well on the exam.）
• Expressing emotions: Used to express emotions such as discouragement or disappointment.
  • Example:「她失恋后，整天无精打采，对什么都提不起兴趣。」
    （After her breakup, she has been listless all day and uninterested in anything.）

Additional Examples:

1. 经过长时间的工作，大家都显得无精打采。
   （After working for a long time, everyone looks exhausted.）
2. 连续加班几个晚上，他今天上班时显得无精打采。
   （After several nights of overtime, he looked weary when he came to work today.）
3. 他最近遇到了一些麻烦事，整个人看起来无精打采的。
   （He has recently faced some troubles and looks downhearted.）
4. 听到这个坏消息，他顿时无精打采，一句话也说不出来。
   （Upon hearing the bad news, he immediately became dispirited and couldn't say a word.）
5. 可能是生病了，小猫今天无精打采地趴在窝里。
   （The kitten might be sick; today it is lying listlessly in its nest.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In traditional Chinese culture, '精气神' (energy, vitality, and spirit) are considered the sources of health and vigor. Being full of these qualities is regarded as a good state. The idiom '无精打采' describes a state where these energies are lacking.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 萎靡不振 (wěi mǐ bù zhèn): Describes a state of lacking energy and motivation, appearing dispirited.
  • 垂头丧气 (chuí tóu sàng qì): Describes being dejected or discouraged due to disappointment or failure.
  • 心灰意冷 (xīn huī yì lěng): Describes complete disappointment and loss of motivation or hope.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 精神抖擞 (jīng shén dǒu sǒu): Describes being full of energy and spirit, very lively.
  • 神采奕奕 (shén cǎi yì yì): Describes being vibrant and radiant with life.
  • 容光焕发 (róng guāng huàn fā): Describes having a glowing complexion and being full of vitality.

6. Summary

'无精打采' is a rich expression that not only means lacking energy but also encompasses underlying causes and emotions such as fatigue, discouragement, and disappointment. Understanding the concept of '精气神' in Chinese culture will help learners use this idiom appropriately according to context.