竭尽全力 (jié jìn quán lì)

Character breakdown

• 竭 (jié) · 14 strokes

  Phonosemantic compound. 立 represents the meaning and 曷 represents the sound.

• 尽 (jǐn) · 6 strokes

  Simplified form of 盡. Depicts a hand (又) using a brush to scrub dishes (皿) clean after one is finished eating. The simplified character 尽 was derived from the cursive form of 盡.

• 全 (Quán) · 6 strokes

  Depicts jade (玉) that is entirely pure and flawless. Based on the original meaning "pure jade". The meaning later shifted to "complete" and "entire".

• 力 (Lì) · 2 strokes

  Pictograph of a plow, which requires strength to operate.

Usage

他竭尽全力去完成比赛。

to spare no effort (idiom); to do one's utmost

tā jié jìn quán lì qù wán chéng bǐ sài 。