Chinese word

惆怅

Pronunciation

Pinyinchóu chàng

Meaning

  • adjectivemelancholy

Example

最近他总是看起来很惆怅。zuì jìn tā zǒng shì kàn qǐ lái hěn chóu chàng

Lately, he always looks melancholy.

Illustration for 惆怅 (melancholy)

More examples

他眼神里透着惆怅。tā yǎn shén lǐ tòu zhe chóu chàng

His eyes showed melancholy.

Core concept

A quiet sadness that lingers in the heart, often colored by longing or resignation.

Common phrases

  • 心里惆怅xīn lǐ chóu chàng

    feel melancholy

  • 看起来很惆怅kàn qǐ lái hěn chóu chàng

    look melancholy

  • 有点惆怅yóu diǎn chóu chàng

    feel a little melancholy

Similar words

难过nán guò: Feeling sad or upset because of a painful event or difficult situation.
郁闷yù mèn: Feeling gloomy and weighed down when a troubled mood will not lift.

Definition in Chinese

描述一种不强烈但持久的忧郁感，常伴随思念或无可奈何的情绪。miáo shù yì zhǒng bù qiáng liè dàn chí jiǔ de yōu yù gǎn cháng bàn suí sī niàn huò wú kě nài hé de qíng xù

Word origin

惆怅 (chóuchàng, "melancholy") is an old literary compound, and both characters carry the heart radical, linking the written form to an inward, lingering feeling.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this word sounds literary and reflective, so it fits personal writing, songs, and thoughtful descriptions better than a quick report of a passing feeling.

Other meanings

  • sadadjective
  • wistfuladjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word