Chinese word

惨重

Pronunciation

Pinyincǎn zhòng

Meaning

  • adjectiveheavy

Example

这次地震造成了惨重的损失。zhè cì dì zhèn zào chéng le cǎn zhòng de sǔn shī

This earthquake caused heavy losses.

Illustration for 惨重 (heavy)

More examples

公司在那场风暴中遭受了惨重的损失。gōng sī zài nà chǎng fēng bào zhōng zāo shòu le cǎn zhòng de sǔn shī

The company suffered heavy losses in that storm.

Core concept

Harm that carries a heavy, tragic weight because the human cost or loss is grave.

Common phrases

  • 损失惨重sǔn shī cǎn zhòng

    heavy losses

  • 伤亡惨重shāng wáng cǎn zhòng

    heavy casualties

  • 付出惨重的代价fù chū cǎn zhòng de dài jià

    pay a heavy price

Similar words

严重yán zhòng: Severe and serious, especially when a situation or its effects cannot be ignored.
重大zhòng dà: Very important or significant, with effects that call for attention or action.

Definition in Chinese

用于形容事故、灾害等造成的伤亡或损失很严重。yòng yú xíng róng shì gù zāi hài děng zào chéng de shāng wáng huò sǔn shī hěn yán zhòng

Word origin

惨 (cǎn, "tragic") + 重 (zhòng, "heavy") gives the word its sense of consequences made grave by both suffering and the amount of loss.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Chinese, 惨重 (cǎnzhòng, "heavy and tragic") is most natural in serious news or formal discussion of major harm, while ordinary daily complaints usually use simpler wording.

Other meanings

  • severeadjective
  • seriousadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word