HSK · Level 64
105 words
Chinese word
忧愁
Pronunciation
Pinyinyōu chóu
Meaning
- nounsadness
Example
听到消息后，他心里充满了忧愁。tīng dào xiāo xī hòu tā xīn lǐ chōng mǎn le yōu chóu
After hearing the news, he was filled with sadness.
More examples
看着信上的字句，他感到忧愁不已。kàn zhe xìn shàng de zì jù tā gǎn dào yōu chóu bù yǐ
Looking at the words in the letter, he was endlessly sad.
Core concept
A dark weight on the mind that lingers when worry, loss, or longing turns into quiet sadness.
Common phrases
忧愁不已yōu chóu bù yǐ
be endlessly sad
心头的忧愁xīn tóu de yōu chóu
sadness in one's heart
Similar words
忧郁yōu yù: A lasting low mood marked by inward gloom and a lack of cheer.
难过nán guò: The feeling of being upset and down because of something that has happened.
悲伤bēi shāng: A deep feeling of sadness, often with a solemn or grieving quality.
伤心shāng xīn: Emotional pain caused by a sad event that leaves the heart feeling hurt.
Definition in Chinese
由思念、失落或烦恼引起的沉郁悲伤，常带有无奈和长时间的忧虑。yóu sī niàn shī luò huò fán nǎo yín qǐ de chén yù bēi shāng cháng dài yǒu wú nài hé zhǎng shí jiān de yōu lǜ
Word origin
忧愁 (yōuchóu, "sorrow") joins 忧 (yōu, "worry") and 愁 (chóu, "sorrow"), linking troubled thoughts with a sadness that lasts.
Usage tips
- In everyday conversation, 忧愁 (yōuchóu, "sorrow") has a literary, reflective tone and fits sustained inner distress better than a quick report of a passing feeling.