Chinese word

思念

Pronunciation

Pinyinsī niàn

Meaning

  • verbmiss

Example

节日的时候我很思念家人。jié rì de shí hòu wǒ hěn sī niàn jiā rén

During the holidays, I really miss my family.

Illustration for 思念 (miss)

More examples

夜里我常常思念故乡。yè lǐ wǒ cháng cháng sī niàn gù xiāng

At night, I often miss my hometown.

Core concept

The heart keeps returning to someone far away or to a meaningful past, bringing both remembrance and a wish to be close again.

Common phrases

  • 思念家人sī niàn jiā rén

    miss one's family

  • 思念故乡sī niàn gù xiāng

    miss one's hometown

  • 思念爱人sī niàn ài rén

    miss one's loved one

Similar words

想念xiǎng niàn: Strongly miss someone who is away or something that has been lost, and want to see or have it again.
怀念huái niàn: Fondly remember a person, event, or time from the past and keep it in the heart.

Definition in Chinese

对远方或已离开的人或过去的时刻怀有深切的挂念与怀想，心里常常想到并渴望再见或重温那些记忆。duì yuǎn fāng huò yǐ lí kāi de rén huò guò qù de shí kè huái yǒu shēn qiè de guà niàn yǔ huái xiǎng xīn lǐ cháng cháng xiǎng dào bìng kě wàng zài jiàn huò chóng wēn nà xiē jì yì

Word origin

The compound 思 (sī, "think") + 念 (niàn, "keep in mind") links active thought with continued mental remembrance, giving the word its deep longing.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may reserve nostalgia for the past, but this Chinese verb naturally applies to a person who is far away as well as to an earlier time.

Other meanings

  • think ofverb
  • nostalgianoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word