Definition

1. Verb:
   • To consume, to use up: To expend or deplete a resource, such as energy, fuel, time, or supplies.
   • To wear down, to deplete: To gradually reduce the strength, numbers, or effectiveness of something, often through sustained effort or attrition.
   • To dissipate, to be lost: To be used and lost, often without a tangible result.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Động cơ này tiêu hao rất ít nhiên liệu. (This engine consumes very little fuel.)
  • Chiến lược đó nhằm tiêu hao sinh lực địch. (That strategy aims to deplete the enemy's manpower.)
  • Năng lượng bị tiêu hao chủ yếu dưới dạng nhiệt. (The energy is dissipated primarily as heat.)

Advanced Usage

• "chiến tranh tiêu hao": war of attrition.
  • Cuộc xung đột đã trở thành một cuộc chiến tranh tiêu hao. (The conflict has turned into a war of attrition.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tiêu tốn (v): to spend, to consume (often money, resources). Can be similar but sometimes implies a cost or expenditure.
  • Dự án tiêu tốn nhiều ngân sách. (The project consumes a lot of the budget.)
• Tiêu thụ (v): to consume (often in commercial/economic contexts for goods, products, electricity).
  • Thị trường tiêu thụ hàng hóa. (The market consumes goods.)
• Hao mòn (v/n): to wear out, to deteriorate; wear and tear.
  • Máy móc bị hao mòn theo thời gian. (Machinery wears out over time.)

Synonyms

• Consume: to use up a resource.
• Deplete: to reduce the supply or strength of something.
• Expend: to spend or use up.
• Dissipate: to scatter or waste.

Related Idioms

• Tiêu hao sinh lực: to wear down manpower/strength (a common military term).
  • Trận đánh này khiến đối phương tiêu hao sinh lực nghiêm trọng. (This battle caused serious depletion of the enemy's manpower.)

verb

1. to wear out, to thin out, to consume