📖 Meaning
This idiom describes a person who is listless and dispirited, completely drained of energy and vitality. It conveys a state of being mentally and emotionally exhausted, lacking any enthusiasm or vigor.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the Yuan dynasty play 'Zhang Sheng Boils the Sea' (张生煮海) by the playwright Li Haogu, specifically in the fourth act. The original line describes a situation where a promised engagement could not be found, and the character wanders the sea in a dejected and spiritless state. Over time, the phrase came to be used to describe anyone appearing listless and devoid of energy.
💡 Example Usage
他连日加班后，整个人失精落彩，毫无生气。
After working overtime for days on end, he looked completely listless and drained of all energy.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 失精落彩
- Pinyin: shī jīng luò cǎi
- Literal Translation: lose spirit, drop color
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4