势穷力竭 exhausted
Explanation
形容力量完全耗尽，大势已去。通常指经过长时间的努力或斗争后，精疲力尽、彻底失败的状态。
Describes a state of complete exhaustion and the end of a hopeless situation. It is typically used to describe the state after a long struggle or fight that leads to complete exhaustion and total defeat.
Origin Story
话说三国时期，蜀汉丞相诸葛亮率领大军北伐魏国，多次与司马懿对峙。经过几番激烈的战斗，蜀军损失惨重，粮草也逐渐匮乏。诸葛亮深知蜀汉国力难以支撑长期战争，而魏国实力雄厚，兵强马壮。面对如此劣势，诸葛亮虽尽心竭力，却依然势穷力竭，最终无奈之下，只得退兵。此战之后，诸葛亮的身体也每况愈下，不久后病逝于五丈原。这便是诸葛亮“六出祁山”最终以失败告终的故事，他用尽了全部力量，却终究无力回天，最终落得一个“势穷力竭”的下场。
During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of Shu Han, led his troops on several northern expeditions against the Wei kingdom, repeatedly confronting Sima Yi. After several fierce battles, the Shu army suffered heavy losses, and their supplies gradually dwindled. Zhuge Liang knew that Shu Han's national strength could not sustain a prolonged war, while Wei was strong and powerful. Facing such disadvantages, although Zhuge Liang tried his best, he was still exhausted, and finally had no choice but to retreat. After this battle, Zhuge Liang's health deteriorated, and he died in Wuzhangyuan shortly afterward. This is the story of Zhuge Liang's "six expeditions to Qishan," which ultimately ended in failure. He had exhausted all his strength, but ultimately was powerless to change the situation, ending up in a state of "shi qiong li jie".
Usage
作谓语、宾语；形容力量用尽，处于困境。
As predicate, object; describes exhaustion and difficult situation.
Examples
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经过长时间的努力，他们终于势穷力竭，不得不放弃了。
jīngguò chángshíjiān de nǔlì, tāmen zhōngyú shìqiónglìjié, bùdébù fàngqìle.
After a long period of effort, they were finally exhausted and had to give up.
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在激烈的竞争中，他势穷力竭，最终败下阵来。
zài jīliè de jìngzhēng zhōng, tā shìqiónglìjié, zuìzhōng bài xià zhèn lái
In the fierce competition, he was exhausted and finally lost the battle..