乏
fá
short of
tired
falling stroke (丿) + stepping foot (之) = short of, tired
之 originally depicted a foot stepping forward, suggesting movement or progress. When that forward motion slants and falters (丿), you get the sense of running short, losing energy, falling behind.
走了很长时间，他感到很乏。
zǒu le hěn cháng shí jiān, tā gǎn dào hěn fá.
After walking for a long time, he felt very tired.
这里人才匮乏，很难找到合适的人。
zhè lǐ rén cái kuì fá, hěn nán zhǎo dào hé shì de rén.
There is a shortage of talented people here, making it hard to find the right person.
Words with 乏
乏人照顾
fá rén zhào gù
(of a person) left unattended
不乏
bù fá
there is no lack of
不虞匮乏
bù yú kuì fá
to have ample supplies (or money etc)
乏力
fá lì
lacking in strength; weak; feeble
乏味
fá wèi
tedious
乏善可陈
fá shàn kě chén
(idiom) to be nothing to write home about
乏燃料
fá rán liào
(nuclear energy) spent fuel
乏燃料棒
fá rán liào bàng
(nuclear energy) spent fuel rods
人困马乏
rén kùn mǎ fá
riders tired and horses weary (idiom)
分身乏术
fēn shēn fá shù
to be up to one's ears in work (idiom)
匮乏
kuì fá
to be deficient in sth
单调乏味
dān diào fá wèi
monotonous