委靡不振 listless and despondent
Explanation
形容精神不振，意志消沉。
Describes someone who is listless and despondent, lacking willpower.
Origin Story
公元1125年，金军南下，北宋危在旦夕。东京城内，人心惶惶，许多大臣都吓得委靡不振，只想逃命。然而，一位名叫杨时的忠义之臣却挺身而出，他上书宋钦宗，慷慨激昂地陈述抗金的策略，指出只有团结一心，才能战胜强敌，如果一味委靡不振，只会加速国家的灭亡。他那凛然正气，感染了周围的许多大臣，激发了他们抗金的斗志，为北宋的抗金斗争注入了新的活力。尽管最终北宋未能抵挡住金军的铁蹄，但杨时的精神却永远地留在了历史的史册上，成为后世激励人们奋勇抗争的精神象征。
In 1125 AD, the Jin army marched south, and the Northern Song Dynasty was on the verge of collapse. In the capital, Dongjing, people were in a panic, and many officials were demoralized and wanted only to escape. However, a loyal minister named Yang Shi stepped forward. He submitted a courageous and impassioned memo to Emperor Qinzong, outlining strategies to repel the Jin army. He stressed that only unity could secure victory and that demoralization would only accelerate the nation's demise. His courage and determination inspired many other officials and ignited their fighting spirit, infusing the resistance against the Jin with renewed vigor. Although the Northern Song ultimately could not withstand the Jin army, Yang Shi's spirit lives on in the annals of history and serves as an inspiring example for future generations.
Usage
用作谓语、定语、状语；形容精神不振，意志消沉。
Used as a predicate, attributive, or adverbial; describes someone who is listless and despondent, lacking willpower.
Examples
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他考试前焦虑不安，考试时更是委靡不振，最终成绩不理想。
tā kǎoshì qián jiāolǜ bù'ān, kǎoshì shí gèng shì wěimǐ bù zhèn, zuìzhōng chéngjī bù lǐxiǎng。
He was anxious and restless before the exam, and even more listless and weak during the exam, resulting in a poor final grade.
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经历了连续的失败后，他变得委靡不振，对未来失去了信心。
jīnglìle liánxù de shībài hòu, tā biàn de wěimǐ bù zhèn, duì wèilái shīqùle xìnxīn。
After a series of failures, he became listless and weak, losing confidence in the future.
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连续加班使得他身体疲惫，精神委靡不振。
liánxù jiābān shǐ de tā shēntǐ píbèi, jīngshen wěimǐ bù zhèn。
Continuous overtime made him physically tired and mentally listless and weak.