A2 noun Formal #4,500 most common 1 min read

心寒

xin han /ɕin˧˥ han˧˥/
Practice it

It describes the feeling of being chilled to the core due to deep emotional disappointment or betrayal.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Refers to deep disappointment and emotional coldness.
  • Used when someone feels betrayed or neglected.
  • Describes a loss of faith in people or situations.

常见语境：主要用于人际关系（如朋友背叛、亲人冷漠）或职场环境（如努力未被认可、公司不公待遇）。当一个人付出了极大的诚意却得到冷漠的回报时，最适合使用此词。

  1. 1近义词辨析：与“失望”相比，“心寒”的程度更深，带有更多情绪上的痛苦和决绝感；与“绝望”相比，“心寒”更侧重于人际互动中产生的冷落感，而“绝望”则侧重于对未来目标的丧失。使用时应注意，“心寒”往往指向具体的对象或事件，而非泛指对生活整体的态度。

Examples

1

他这种过河拆桥的行为真让人心寒。

everyday

His behavior of burning bridges is truly chilling.

2

对于公司的决策，员工们感到十分心寒。

formal

The employees felt deeply disappointed by the company's decision.

3

别让我心寒了。

informal

Don't let me down (to the point of despair).

4

该事件的社会影响令人心寒。

academic

The social impact of this incident is disheartening.

Common Collocations

让人心寒 make one feel chilled/disappointed
感到心寒 feel chilled/disappointed
彻底心寒 completely disheartened

Common Phrases

令人心寒

disheartening

彻底心寒

completely disillusioned

心寒不已

feeling endless disappointment

Often Confused With

心寒 vs 失望

Disappointment is a general feeling when expectations aren't met. Heart-chilling (心寒) is a more intense, personal, and painful form of disappointment.

心寒 vs 绝望

Despair is the total loss of hope. Heart-chilling is more about the emotional coldness caused by specific people or events.

Grammar Patterns

让人心寒 感到心寒 令人心寒的[名词]

How to Use It

This term is used in both formal and informal contexts. It is a powerful word that implies a significant breakdown of trust. Avoid using it for trivial matters as it carries a heavy emotional weight.

Common Mistakes

Users often mistake it for a physical sensation of cold. It is purely metaphorical. Some learners use it to mean 'sad', but it specifically requires a cause involving disappointment or betrayal.

Tips

💡

Focus on the emotional depth

Use this word when the disappointment is severe enough to change your perspective on a relationship. It implies a lasting impact on your trust.

⚠️

Avoid overusing in casual talk

Don't use it for minor inconveniences like a delayed train. It is reserved for significant personal or professional letdowns.

🌍

Cultural emphasis on loyalty

In Chinese culture, emphasizing 'heart' (心) in emotional expressions highlights the depth of human connection. Betrayal of this bond leads to 'heart-chilling' (心寒).

Word Origin

The term combines '心' (heart) and '寒' (cold). It originates from the traditional metaphorical understanding that warmth represents love and care, while coldness represents indifference and neglect.

Cultural Context

In Chinese culture, relationships are built on mutual trust and 'face'. When that trust is broken, the resulting feeling is often described as 'heart-chilling', reflecting the severity of the social breach.

Memory Tip

Imagine your heart turning into an ice cube because someone you trusted hurt you. The word '心' (heart) + '寒' (cold) equals your heart freezing over.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

难过通常指一时的悲伤或情绪低落，而心寒则包含失望、幻灭和对对方失去信任的深层情绪，程度更重。

不可以。心寒仅用于形容人的心理状态，与物理温度无关。

通常在遭遇背叛、付出没有回报或受到不公正对待时使用。

它是一个描述负面情感的词汇，通常用来指责对方的行为导致了这种感受。

Test Yourself

fill blank

他为公司奉献了十年，最后却被无情裁员，这让他感到非常___。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 心寒

因为付出了努力却得到不公对待，产生的是失望和寒心。

multiple choice

下列哪种情况最适合用“心寒”？

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 最好的朋友在他最困难时选择了离开

背叛和冷漠是产生心寒的主要原因。

sentence building

他那种冷漠的态度___。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 让人感到心寒

“令人心寒”常用来描述某种行为带来的负面感受。

Score: /3

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

冷えた Japanese
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