Chinese word

沉甸甸

Pronunciation

Pinyinchén diàn diàn

Meaning

  • adjectiveheavy

Example

他提着沉甸甸的行李上车了。tā tí zhe chén diàn diàn de xíng lǐ shàng chē le

He boarded the vehicle carrying heavy luggage.

Illustration for 沉甸甸 (heavy)

More examples

桌上放着一个沉甸甸的包裹。zhuō shàng fàng zhe yí gè chén diàn diàn de bāo guǒ

A heavy package is sitting on the table.

Core concept

Something so weighty that it seems to press down on the person or surface supporting it.

Common phrases

  • 沉甸甸的行李chén diàn diàn de xíng lǐ

    heavy luggage

  • 沉甸甸的包裹chén diàn diàn de bāo guǒ

    heavy package

  • 沉甸甸的心情chén diàn diàn de xīn qíng

    heavy mood

  • 沉甸甸的责任chén diàn diàn de zé rèn

    heavy responsibility

Similar words

沉重chén zhòng: Is so heavy that lifting or moving it takes noticeable effort.
笨重bèn zhòng: Feels heavy and is hard to handle because its size or shape is awkward.
重zhòng: Weighs a lot and is not light.

Definition in Chinese

形容分量大或给人明显沉重感觉的状态，比单纯的“重”更强调压迫或存在感。xíng róng fèn liàng dà huò gěi rén míng xiǎn chén zhòng gǎn jué de zhuàng tài bǐ dān chún de zhòng gèng qiáng diào yā pò huò cún zài gǎn

Word origin

沉甸甸 (chéndiàndiàn, "heavy and weighty") grows from 沉 (chén, "to sink; heavy") plus repeated sound, which gives the felt heaviness a vivid, lingering quality.

Usage tips

  • English often uses heavy for physical weight and many abstract ideas, but this Chinese adjective usually evokes a concrete burden that can be felt when an object is handled.

Opposites

  • 轻飘飘qīng piāo piāolight and airyadjective
  • 轻盈qīng yínglight and gracefuladjective

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