Usage and Nuances
The verb 耗费 (hào fèi) primarily means to consume or use up resources such as time, money, energy, or materials. It often implies a significant or wasteful expenditure, so it can carry a slightly negative nuance when referring to unnecessary or excessive use.
Common Contexts
- Talking about machines or processes that consume energy or materials: "这台机器耗费了很多电力。"
- Describing the consumption of intangible resources like time and effort: "完成这个项目耗费了我们大量的时间和精力。"
- Warning about environmental or resource overuse: "过度耗费资源会对环境造成严重影响。"
Collocations and Patterns
- 耗费时间 (to consume time): used when emphasizing how much time something takes.
- 耗费精力 (to consume energy/effort): common in work or study contexts.
- 耗费资源 (to consume resources): often used in environmental or economic discussions.
Register and Tone
耗费 is a formal verb, suitable for written and spoken Chinese in professional, academic, or serious contexts. It is less common in casual conversation where simpler verbs like 用 (use) or 花 (spend) might be preferred.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse 耗费 with 浪费, which specifically means to waste in a negative sense. 耗费 can be neutral or negative depending on context, while 浪费 always implies unnecessary waste.
Usage and Nuances
The verb 耗费 (hào fèi) primarily means to consume or use up resources such as time, money, energy, or materials. It often implies a significant or wasteful expenditure, so it can carry a slightly negative nuance when referring to unnecessary or excessive use.
Common Contexts
- Talking about machines or processes that consume energy or materials: "这台机器耗费了很多电力。"
- Describing the consumption of intangible resources like time and effort: "完成这个项目耗费了我们大量的时间和精力。"
- Warning about environmental or resource overuse: "过度耗费资源会对环境造成严重影响。"
Collocations and Patterns
- 耗费时间 (to consume time): used when emphasizing how much time something takes.
- 耗费精力 (to consume energy/effort): common in work or study contexts.
- 耗费资源 (to consume resources): often used in environmental or economic discussions.
Register and Tone
耗费 is a formal verb, suitable for written and spoken Chinese in professional, academic, or serious contexts. It is less common in casual conversation where simpler verbs like 用 (use) or 花 (spend) might be preferred.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse 耗费 with 浪费, which specifically means to waste in a negative sense. 耗费 can be neutral or negative depending on context, while 浪费 always implies unnecessary waste.
Usage and Nuances
The verb 耗费 (hào fèi) primarily means to consume or use up resources such as time, money, energy, or materials. It often implies a significant or wasteful expenditure, so it can carry a slightly negative nuance when referring to unnecessary or excessive use.
Common Contexts
- Talking about machines or processes that consume energy or materials: "这台机器耗费了很多电力。"
- Describing the consumption of intangible resources like time and effort: "完成这个项目耗费了我们大量的时间和精力。"
- Warning about environmental or resource overuse: "过度耗费资源会对环境造成严重影响。"
Collocations and Patterns
- 耗费时间 (to consume time): used when emphasizing how much time something takes.
- 耗费精力 (to consume energy/effort): common in work or study contexts.
- 耗费资源 (to consume resources): often used in environmental or economic discussions.
Register and Tone
耗费 is a formal verb, suitable for written and spoken Chinese in professional, academic, or serious contexts. It is less common in casual conversation where simpler verbs like 用 (use) or 花 (spend) might be preferred.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse 耗费 with 浪费, which specifically means to waste in a negative sense. 耗费 can be neutral or negative depending on context, while 浪费 always implies unnecessary waste.