殚精竭虑 dān jīng jié lǜ

to rack one's brains

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 50234th word

Definitions

  1. 1. to rack one's brains
  2. 2. to exhaust one's thoughts and ingenuity (idiom); to think sth through thoroughly
  3. 3. to leave no stone unturned

Characters

Character Meaning
殚 dān
to exhaust; entirely
精 jīng HSK 4
essence; elite; proficient (refined ability)
竭 jié HSK 6
to exhaust
虑 lǜ HSK 4
to consider; to think over; anxiety