声嘶力竭

聲嘶力竭

shēngsī-lìjié

idiom #30,174

Meanings

1 voice hoarse and strength spent
2 to shout oneself hoarse
3 to scream with all one's might until exhausted

Characters

hoarse; rasping

exhausted; used up

Examples

HSK 3

他声嘶力竭地为球队加油。

Tā shēngsī-lìjié de wèi qiúduì jiāyóu.

He shouted himself hoarse cheering for his team.

HSK 4

演讲者讲到激动处，声嘶力竭。

Yǎnjiǎngzhě jiǎng dào jīdòng chù, shēngsī-lìjié.

When the speaker reached the most impassioned part, his voice cracked from the strain.

HSK 7-9

母亲声嘶力竭地呼唤走失的孩子。

Mǔqīn shēngsī-lìjié de hūhuàn zǒushī de háizi.

The mother screamed herself hoarse calling for her lost child.

Tips

usage

Implies extreme effort and physical exhaustion of the voice - fans, mothers searching for children, protestors, impassioned speakers. Often slightly tragic or futile in tone.

memory

声嘶 (voice goes hoarse) + 力竭 (strength runs out): the body literally gives out from yelling. Pictures the moment your voice cracks and you can't shout anymore.

Stroke Order

声 shēng

嘶 sī

力 lì

竭 jié