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耗

hào
verb HSK 7-9 #7,922

Meanings

  1. 1 to consume; to use up
  2. 2 to waste
  3. 3 news; tidings

Examples

这台机器很耗电。
Zhè tái jīqì hěn hào diàn.
This machine consumes a lot of electricity.
别耗时间了。
Bié hào shíjiān le.
Don't waste time.

Tips

usage
消耗 (to consume), 耗费 (to expend), 损耗 (loss/wear) are common.

Components

radical
耒 lěi
plough; wooden handle of a hoe
Left plough radical 耒 - Kangxi #127, depicting the handle and prongs of a wooden plough. The indexing radical, anchoring 耗 in the agricultural-tool family. Originally 耗 named a kind of rice or grain that was consumed quickly - from there came the sense 'to consume, use up' (消耗 deplete, 耗费 expend).
phonetic
毛 máo
hair; fur
Right 毛 supplies the sound - máo shifting to hào through historical m/h alternation in this lexical family. 毛 itself depicts a tuft of fur or feathers. Same phonetic appears in 耄 (aged, very old), 旄 (yak-tail banner). A faint semantic flavour too - drained, depleted things often become 'thin as hair'.

Stroke Order

耗 hào