耗

• Pinyin: hào
• Hanzi breakdown: 耗 = 毛 (hair/fur) + 乇 — originally depicted gradual wearing away

Meaning

To consume; to deplete; to drag on. Describes the using up of resources or time, often wastefully.

Can refer to consuming energy, money, time, or resources. Also used for drawn-out, grinding situations (耗着 — keep stalling/dragging). The character image evokes slow depletion, like a candle burning down.

Examples

1. 这个项目耗费了团队整整三年的心血。 This project consumed three full years of the team’s hard work.
2. 他不想就这个问题一直耗下去，决定尽快做出决定。 He didn’t want to keep dragging this issue out and decided to make a decision as soon as possible.
3. 长期的压力耗尽了她的精力，让她疲惫不堪。 Long-term pressure drained her energy and left her exhausted.

Usage Guide

Context: resources, time, endurance, stalling

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 这台旧机器太耗电了，换一台更节能的会更划算。(This old machine consumes too much electricity — switching to a more energy-efficient one would be more economical.)
• 谈判双方都在耗，谁也不愿意先让步。(Both sides in the negotiation were stalling, neither willing to make the first concession.)

Don't Say

• 耗 for productive consumption of resources — 用 or 消耗 is more neutral; 耗 carries a sense of waste or excess

Origin & History

Originally depicted animal horns worn down — sense of depletion. Modern character: 耗 = 毛 (fur) + 乇 variant.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal