Run-down

[SeekerOfPeace]

What would be the best possible translation for "run-down"?

I'll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around last

Christmas just before I got pretty run-down and had to come out here and take it easy.

Would 灰心 do it?

[monto]

精疲力尽

may fit if you mean by run-down

"in poor physical condition; weak or exhausted"

[SeekerOfPeace]

Ok, thank you.

According to the context, I thought it was more like mentally tired, exhausted, almost depressed.

But I'll go with that suggestion.

[muyongshi]

well what monto suggested does have a 精神方面. 精神疲倦 is how you could interpret the first part. You may consider even just 疲倦. 灰心 doesn't work from the way I read the original text.

I think there is a little bit of a physical tiredness in the term run-down with an emphasis on emotional exhaustion. So I think monto's choice would work as it has both in there.

[SeekerOfPeace]

Ok thank you.

I'll just go with Monto's suggestion then.

[hidden12345]

I'll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around last

Christmas just before I got pretty run-down and had to come out here and take it easy.

I would say something like:

圣诞节的时候我忙得团团转（而）快发疯了，出了一些事让我心力交瘁所以来这里休息一下。

要告诉你啊~~~（then say all of your specific "madman stuff")

[SeekerOfPeace]

Thank you Hidden,

This is actually an excerpt from the Catcher in the rye.

My students are reading it and I wanted to explain to them the meaning of run-down.