Chinese word

垂头丧气

Pronunciation

Pinyinchuí tóu sàng qì

Meaning

  • idiomdejected

Example

考试失败后，他垂头丧气。kǎo shì shī bài hòu tā chuí tóu sàng qì

After failing the exam, he was dejected.

Illustration for 垂头丧气 (dejected)

More examples

他收到批评后，神情垂头丧气。tā shōu dào pī píng hòu shén qíng chuí tóu sàng qì

After receiving criticism, he looked dejected.

Core concept

Head lowered and spirit drained after a setback, with no energy to act.

Common phrases

  • 一副垂头丧气的样子yí fù chuí tóu sàng qì de yàng zi

    a dejected look

  • 垂头丧气地坐着chuí tóu sàng qì dì zuò zhe

    sit dejectedly

  • 变得垂头丧气biàn de chuí tóu sàng qì

    become dejected

Similar words

闷闷不乐mèn mèn bú lè: Feeling down and unable to enjoy things, with low energy.
心灰意冷xīn huī yì lěng: Deeply disappointed after hopes or expectations fade, with the will to act gone.
意气消沉yì qì xiāo chén: Having low morale and reduced drive, with little energy for action.

Definition in Chinese

形容因失败、失望或遭遇挫折后情绪低落、无精打采、精神不振。xíng róng yīn shī bài shī wàng huò zāo yù cuò zhé hòu qíng xù dī luò wú jīng dá cǎi jīng shén bú zhèn

Word origin

The idiom 垂头丧气 (chuítóusàngqì, "dejected") pairs the image of a hanging head with lost spirit to express low morale after a setback.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, it usually describes a temporary reaction to a setback, while English "depressed" can also suggest a longer-term mental-health condition.

Other meanings

  • disappointedidiom

Opposites

  • 精神抖擞jīng shén dóu sǒufull of energyidiom
  • 意气风发yì qì fēng fāhigh-spiritedidiom

Word lists with this word