没劲

• Pinyin: méi jìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 没 = 氵(water) + 殳 — to lack, not have; 劲 = 工 (work) + 力 (strength) — energy, vigour

Meaning

Boring; dull; tedious; lacking energy or enthusiasm. Colloquial expression for something uninteresting.

A casual, spoken-language expression used to describe activities, topics, or situations that feel pointless, unstimulating, or exhausting. Can also refer to physical exhaustion — lacking physical strength. Very common in everyday speech, especially among younger speakers.

Examples

1. 这部电影剧情拖沓，看了一半就觉得没劲，索性关掉去做别的事情了。 This movie drags on. I felt bored halfway through, so I just turned it off and did something else.
2. 连续加班两周之后，他整个人都没劲了，对什么事情都提不起兴趣。 After two straight weeks of overtime, he had no energy left and couldn’t get interested in anything.
3. 他抱怨这座小城太没劲，既没有娱乐设施，又缺乏文化活动，年轻人都想离开。 He complained that this small city is so boring—there’s no entertainment and hardly any cultural activities—so young people all want to leave.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, entertainment, youth

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 就那几个景点，来来去去都是一样的，真没劲，下次我们换个地方去玩吧。(It's always the same few attractions, over and over — so boring. Let's go somewhere different next time.)
• 最近工作压力太大，整个人都没劲，连周末出去玩的心情都没有了。(Work pressure has been so heavy lately that I've lost all energy — I don't even feel like going out on weekends anymore.)

Don't Say

• 在正式文书或书面语中使用'没劲' — 书面语应改用'乏味''无聊'或'令人倦怠' (Don't use 没劲 in formal writing or official documents — use 乏味, 无聊, or 令人倦怠 instead)

Origin & History

Colloquial compound: 没 (lacking, no) + 劲 (energy, vigour, interest). Literally 'lacking energy/vigour'.

Cultural Context

Generation: Young adults and below

Social background: Universal