悲痛欲绝
This phrase describes someone who is extremely sad and heartbroken.
Explanation at your level:
This word is for very sad times. If someone loses something very important, they feel this way. It means you are very, very sad.
Use this when you see someone crying a lot because of bad news. It describes extreme sadness that makes you feel like you cannot stop crying.
This is a common idiom for deep mourning. It is used in news or books to describe people who have lost family members or friends in a tragedy.
This phrase carries significant emotional weight. Unlike 'sad,' which is a common word, this idiom implies a total loss of hope or spirit due to grief.
In advanced writing, this phrase is used to evoke pathos. It is common in literary descriptions of characters facing existential crises or profound personal loss.
This is a culturally loaded idiom. It taps into traditional Chinese views on the connection between extreme emotion and physical health, suggesting that grief can literally 'end' a person's vitality.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means extreme grief.
- Used for serious tragedy.
- Formal idiomatic expression.
- Adjective describing state.
悲痛欲绝 is a powerful Chinese idiom used to describe a person who is overwhelmed with grief. When you use this term, you are painting a picture of someone whose sadness is so deep that they feel they cannot go on.
Think of it as the ultimate expression of heartbreak. It is not just being a little sad; it is a profound emotional collapse. In a friendly conversation, you might use this to show deep empathy for someone who has experienced a life-changing tragedy.
The phrase comes from classical Chinese literature. 悲痛 means 'sadness and pain,' while 欲绝 literally means 'about to end' or 'on the verge of cutting off.' Combined, it suggests that the grief is so intense that the person feels their life force or spirit is about to snap.
Historically, this phrase was used in dramatic narratives to describe characters who lost everything—their families, their homes, or their honor. It has evolved into a standard way to describe extreme mourning in modern language.
You should use this phrase carefully because it is very intense. It is not appropriate for minor disappointments like failing a test or losing a game. It is reserved for major life tragedies like the death of a loved one or a catastrophic disaster.
It is often paired with verbs like 感到 (to feel) or 哭得 (to cry until...). Because of its weight, it is considered a formal or literary expression, making it perfect for written reports, news stories, or heartfelt letters of condolence.
1. 痛不欲生: Meaning 'pain so great one does not want to live.' Example: She was 痛不欲生 after the accident.
2. 撕心裂肺: Meaning 'heart-tearing pain.' Example: He let out a 撕心裂肺 cry.
3. 伤心欲绝: A variation meaning 'heartbroken to the point of despair.' Example: He was 伤心欲绝.
4. 悲从中来: Meaning 'grief comes from within.' Example: The 悲从中来 made him weep.
5. 肝肠寸断: Meaning 'grief so deep it breaks one's liver and intestines.' Example: The mother was 肝肠寸断.
Grammatically, 悲痛欲绝 functions as an adjective or a predicate. You can say 'He is 悲痛欲绝' (他悲痛欲绝) or use it to modify a state, like 'a 悲痛欲绝 mother' (一位悲痛欲绝的母亲).
The pronunciation is 'bēi tòng yù jué.' The rhythm is steady and somber, reflecting the heavy meaning of the words. It rhymes loosely with other 'ue' ending phrases, but its unique four-character structure makes it stand out in any sentence.
Fun Fact
It is a classic four-character idiom (Chengyu).
Pronunciation Guide
N/A
N/A
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing '欲' (yù)
- Incorrect tone for '悲' (bēi)
- Slurring the four characters
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Intermediate
Advanced
Advanced
Intermediate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective usage
他很悲痛欲绝。
Verb-Complement
哭得悲痛欲绝。
Idiom structure
悲痛欲绝 (4 chars).
Examples by Level
他很悲痛欲绝。
He is heartbroken.
Subject + adjective
妈妈悲痛欲绝。
Mom is heartbroken.
Subject + adjective
我感到悲痛欲绝。
I feel heartbroken.
Verb + adjective
他们悲痛欲绝。
They are heartbroken.
Subject + adjective
这让人悲痛欲绝。
This is heartbreaking.
Subject + verb + adjective
不要悲痛欲绝。
Don't be heartbroken.
Imperative
她看起来悲痛欲绝。
She looks heartbroken.
Verb + adjective
悲痛欲绝的孩子。
The heartbroken child.
Adjective + noun
他在葬礼上悲痛欲绝。
听到消息后，她悲痛欲绝。
这悲痛欲绝的场景让人难过。
他因为失去宠物而悲痛欲绝。
不要让自己变得悲痛欲绝。
全家人都悲痛欲绝。
那是一个悲痛欲绝的时刻。
她哭得悲痛欲绝。
面对突如其来的变故，他悲痛欲绝。
小说里的主角因离别而悲痛欲绝。
新闻报道称受害者家属悲痛欲绝。
这种悲痛欲绝的感觉很难形容。
他试图安慰悲痛欲绝的朋友。
她在那一刻感到悲痛欲绝。
整个村庄陷入了悲痛欲绝的气氛。
尽管悲痛欲绝，他还是坚持工作。
这场灾难让成千上万的家庭悲痛欲绝。
他那悲痛欲绝的表情深深触动了我。
在巨大的压力下，他显得悲痛欲绝。
她无法掩饰自己悲痛欲绝的心情。
那封信让他感到悲痛欲绝。
尽管时间流逝，她依然悲痛欲绝。
这种悲痛欲绝的痛苦是常人难以想象的。
他以悲痛欲绝的语气讲述了往事。
他那悲痛欲绝的哀嚎在空荡的房间里回响。
面对不可挽回的损失，他陷入了悲痛欲绝的深渊。
这种悲痛欲绝的绝望感贯穿了整部作品。
她不仅是悲痛欲绝，更是对未来感到迷茫。
历史书记录了那个悲痛欲绝的时代。
他将悲痛欲绝的情绪化作了文字。
这种悲痛欲绝的境遇考验着每一个人的意志。
她表现出的悲痛欲绝并非伪装。
他那悲痛欲绝的姿态，仿佛整个世界的重量都压在他身上。
这种悲痛欲绝的体验，彻底改变了他的人生观。
在悲痛欲绝的边缘，他找到了唯一的慰藉。
文学作品常以悲痛欲绝来刻画人物的内心冲突。
那种悲痛欲绝的寂静，比任何哭声都更令人心碎。
她那悲痛欲绝的眼神，诉说着无尽的哀愁。
悲痛欲绝不仅仅是情绪的宣泄，更是一种精神的重塑。
他用悲痛欲绝的笔触，描绘了那个破碎的家庭。
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"痛不欲生"
pain so bad one wants to die
他痛不欲生。
formal"撕心裂肺"
heart-tearing
撕心裂肺的哭声。
common"心如刀割"
heart cut by a knife
心如刀割的痛。
common"肝肠寸断"
grief breaking organs
她肝肠寸断。
literary"悲从中来"
grief arising from within
悲从中来不可断。
literary"泣不成声"
crying so much one cannot speak
她泣不成声。
commonEasily Confused
Both mean sad
悲伤 is general, 悲痛欲绝 is extreme
他很悲伤 vs 他悲痛欲绝
Both mean sad
难过 is casual
我很难过
Both mean sad
伤心 is common
我很伤心
Both relate to pain
痛苦 focuses on suffering
他很痛苦
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 感到 + 悲痛欲绝
他感到悲痛欲绝。
悲痛欲绝的 + Noun
悲痛欲绝的母亲。
Subject + 哭得 + 悲痛欲绝
她哭得悲痛欲绝。
因为 + Reason + Subject + 悲痛欲绝
因为失去亲人，他悲痛欲绝。
Subject + 陷入了 + 悲痛欲绝
他陷入了悲痛欲绝。
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
It is too dramatic for small things.
People often confuse it with similar characters.
It describes a state, not an action.
Sounds unnatural in daily small talk.
悲痛 is just sorrow, the idiom is extreme.
Tips
Break it down
Learn the 4 characters separately.
Serious only
Use for life-changing events.
Chengyu
It is a standard Chengyu.
Adjective usage
Use like an adjective.
Tone practice
Focus on the 4 tones.
Don't use for minor stuff
Avoid overstatement.
Origin
Rooted in ancient tragedy.
Context learning
Read news reports.
Rhythm
Keep it steady.
Empathy
Use to show you care.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
悲 (sad) 痛 (pain) 欲 (want/about to) 绝 (end).
Visual Association
A broken heart symbol.
Word Web
Challenge
Write a sentence about a sad movie scene.
Word Origin
Chinese
Original meaning: Sorrow so deep one is about to die.
Cultural Context
Do not use jokingly.
Equivalent to 'heartbroken' or 'devastated'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At a funeral
- 家属悲痛欲绝
- 场面悲痛欲绝
- 令人悲痛欲绝
Reading news
- 受害者家属悲痛欲绝
- 现场一片悲痛欲绝
- 民众感到悲痛欲绝
Writing a novel
- 悲痛欲绝的眼神
- 悲痛欲绝的呼喊
- 内心悲痛欲绝
Expressing empathy
- 看到你这样我悲痛欲绝
- 别太悲痛欲绝
- 理解你的悲痛欲绝
Conversation Starters
"How do you express deep sadness?"
"Have you ever seen someone who was 悲痛欲绝?"
"Is it better to show your sadness?"
"How do you comfort someone who is 悲痛欲绝?"
"Why is this phrase so powerful?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt very sad.
Describe a sad scene in a movie.
How would you comfort a friend who lost a pet?
Why do we use idioms like 悲痛欲绝?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is too strong.
Yes, it is a formal idiom.
No, it means sad.
Only if the situation is very serious.
No, it is an adjective.
bēi tòng yù jué.
Yes, in writing.
Yes, to express deep pain.
Test Yourself
他因为失去宠物而___。
Context is sad.
What does 悲痛欲绝 mean?
It means extreme grief.
Is 悲痛欲绝 used for happy events?
It is for sad events.
Word
Meaning
Direct translation.
Standard structure.
Score: /5
Summary
悲痛欲绝 describes the deepest level of heartbreak and sorrow.
- Means extreme grief.
- Used for serious tragedy.
- Formal idiomatic expression.
- Adjective describing state.
Break it down
Learn the 4 characters separately.
Serious only
Use for life-changing events.
Chengyu
It is a standard Chengyu.
Adjective usage
Use like an adjective.
Example
失去亲人后，她悲痛欲绝。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More emotions words
有点
A1A little; somewhat; rather.
一点
A1A little; a bit; slightly.
可恶
A2Hateful; detestable; abominable.
心不在焉
A2Absent-minded; preoccupied.
接受地
A2Acceptingly; receptively.
成就感
B1Sense of achievement; fulfillment.
撒娇
A2To act like a spoiled child; to act cute.
上瘾
B1To be addicted to something.
沉迷
A2To be addicted to; to be engrossed in.
敬佩
B1Admiration; respect; reverence.
