(ひろうこんぱい)

ひろうこんぱい
noun; verb-suru
total exhaustion; utter fatigue
1. total exhaustion; utter fatigue
A state of complete physical and mental exhaustion. A four-character compound (四字熟語) that emphasizes the extreme degree of tiredness, stronger than simply 疲労 alone.
疲労困憊(ひろうこんぱい)(うご)けない。
I'm so exhausted I can't move.
三日間(みっかかん)()ずに(はたら)いて、疲労困憊(ひろうこんぱい)状態(じょうたい)だった。
After working three days without sleep, I was in a state of total exhaustion.
マラソンを(はし)()えた選手(せんしゅ)たちは疲労困憊(ひろうこんぱい)しながらも、笑顔(えがお)でゴールした。
The runners who finished the marathon crossed the goal line smiling despite their utter exhaustion.

USAGE:
A 四字熟語(よじじゅくご) (four-character compound). Can be used as a noun or with する. 疲労(ひろう) means fatigue; 困憊(こんぱい) means exhaustion/being worn out. Together they emphasize extreme, total exhaustion.

NUANCE:
Stronger than (つか)れた (tired) or even 疲労(ひろう) (fatigue) alone. Implies being completely drained of energy. Somewhat literary but commonly used when describing extreme tiredness.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 疲労困憊(ひろうこんぱい)状態(じょうたい): state of total exhaustion
  • 疲労困憊(ひろうこんぱい)する: to be utterly exhausted
  • 疲労困憊(ひろうこんぱい)(たお)れる: to collapse from exhaustion