累
lèi
tired / exhausted
累 means tired or exhausted. This is a high-frequency word for describing physical or mental fatigue after work, study, or travel.
Example sentences
我今天很累。
Wǒ jīntiān hěn lèi.
I am very tired today.
工作了一天，太累了。
Gōngzuò le yì tiān, tài lèi le.
Worked all day, so tired.
How to use 累 in practice
累 is a emotions & feelings item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin lèi, then connect it to the meaning “tired / exhausted” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 我今天很累。 / 工作了一天，太累了。.
When you practice 累, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 累 only as “tired / exhausted” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Work & office guide, start a short conversation, and use 累 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 累 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only lèi, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
What are stronger alternatives to 累?
累死了 means "dead tired" (very colloquial). 疲劳 is more formal and often used in medical or professional contexts.
How can I remember 累 faster?
Say 累 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 累 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 累 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach