exhaustion / depletion
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exhaustion
A state of extreme physical or mental tiredness and lack of strength, usually as a result of great effort or stress.
Nach dem Marathon war sie kurz vor der völligen Erschöpfung.
After the marathon, she was on the verge of complete exhaustion.
'Erschöpfung' (exhaustion/depletion) comes from the verb 'erschöpfen' (to exhaust/deplete). The base word 'schöpfen' means to take something out or draw something, as in water from a well. The prefix 'er-' signals a process carried through to the end—so all strength or all resources have been 'herausgeschöpft' (drawn out/used up).
Nach wochenlanger Arbeit waren seine Kräfte völlig erschöpft.
After weeks of work, his strength was completely exhausted.
You can recognize the meaning from the context: if 'Erschöpfung' (exhaustion/depletion) refers to a person, it is about tiredness and lack of strength. If it refers to things like 'Ressourcen' (resources), 'Vorräte' (supplies), or 'Quellen' (sources), it means complete consumption or depletion.
Wegen seiner Erschöpfung musste der Wanderer eine Pause machen.
Because of his exhaustion, the hiker had to take a break.
When it is about tiredness, 'Erschöpfung' (exhaustion) is often intensified with adjectives like 'völlig' (complete) or 'total' (total). Fixed phrases include 'am Rande der Erschöpfung sein' (to be on the verge of exhaustion) or 'an Erschöpfung leiden' (to suffer from exhaustion).
Die junge Mutter war nach den schlaflosen Nächten am Rande der Erschöpfung.
After the sleepless nights, the young mother was on the verge of exhaustion.
To express the cause of the tiredness, the preposition 'vor' (from/because of) with the dative is often used. For example, someone has almost fallen asleep 'vor Erschöpfung' (from exhaustion).
Der Läufer fiel nach dem Rennen vor Erschöpfung ins Gras.
After the race, the runner collapsed into the grass from exhaustion.
In the context of resources, 'Erschöpfung' (depletion) is usually used with a genitive or the preposition 'von' (of) to say what has been used up: 'die Erschöpfung der Rohstoffe' (the depletion of raw materials) or 'die Erschöpfung von Vorräten' (the depletion of supplies).
Wissenschaftler warnen vor der baldigen Erschöpfung der Phosphorvorkommen.
Scientists warn of the imminent depletion of phosphorus deposits.
energy
'Energie' and 'Erschöpfung' describe opposite states. 'Energie' means the strength and drive to do something. 'Erschöpfung' means that this strength is almost or completely gone, often after a lot of work, stress, or physical exertion. 'Energie' fits when someone is able to be active. 'Erschöpfung' fits when someone is very tired and has no strength.
Nach drei Nächten mit wenig Schlaf war die Erschöpfung deutlich zu spüren.
After three nights with little sleep, the exhaustion was clearly noticeable.
Nach der Arbeit hatte meine Nachbarin noch genug Energie für einen Spaziergang.
After work, my neighbor still had enough energy for a walk.