A2 noun Formal #4,000 most common 1 min read

忧愁

you chou /joʊ.t͡ʂʰoʊ/

A deep, lingering feeling of sorrow, worry, or mental heaviness.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Refers to a state of deep worry or sorrow.
  • Describes persistent feelings of mental burden or anxiety.
  • Used to express emotional distress in formal or literary contexts.

Overview

  1. 1概览:忧愁是一个表达复杂负面情感的词汇,它包含了“忧”(担心)和“愁”(愁闷)两层含义。它不仅仅是短暂的难过,通常带有一种萦绕心头的沉重感,是一个人在面对困境、孤独或压力时常见的心理状态。2) 用法模式:在句子中,忧愁常作名词使用,可以作为主语(如:忧愁笼罩着他),也可以作为宾语(如:他消除了心中的忧愁)。它常与动词搭配,如“消除”、“排解”、“充满”或“带给”。3) 常见语境:忧愁常出现在文学作品、情感交流或对个人心理状态的描述中。比如,当一个人面临离别、失业或人生重大抉择时,往往会感到忧愁。在现代生活中,它也常用来形容对未来的不确定感。4) 近义词辨析:与“难过”相比,“忧愁”更侧重于心理的负担和长期的思虑,而“难过”往往是对即时事件的强烈情感反应。与“烦恼”相比,“忧愁”的程度通常更深,带有一种忧郁的色彩,而“烦恼”则更倾向于琐碎的干扰。

Examples

1

他脸上带着一丝忧愁。

everyday

There was a hint of sorrow on his face.

2

忧愁是诗人的常客。

formal

Sorrow is a frequent visitor to the poet.

3

别再为那点小事忧愁了。

informal

Stop worrying about that small thing.

4

长期的忧愁会影响人的健康。

academic

Prolonged anxiety can affect one's health.

Common Collocations

满面忧愁 look very worried
排解忧愁 relieve sorrow
消除忧愁 dispel anxiety

Common Phrases

愁眉不展

frowning with worry

解忧

relieve worry

忧国忧民

concerned about the country and the people

Often Confused With

忧愁 vs 烦恼

Refers to annoyance or irritation caused by trivial problems. It is much more common in daily speech than '忧愁'.

忧愁 vs 担心

Specifically means 'to worry' about a potential outcome. It is a verb, whereas '忧愁' is primarily a noun describing a state.

Grammar Patterns

充满忧愁 感到忧愁 满面忧愁

How to Use It

Usage Notes

The word '忧愁' is relatively formal and literary. It is rarely used in casual, spoken conversation. In modern Mandarin, it is best reserved for written essays or describing deep, significant emotional states.


Common Mistakes

Learners often use '忧愁' to describe being annoyed by a noisy neighbor, which is incorrect. It should be reserved for deeper emotional states. Also, remember it is a noun, not a verb.

Tips

💡

Use with emotional verbs

Combine '忧愁' with verbs like '消除' or '排解' to describe how you manage your stress. This makes your sentences sound more natural and sophisticated.

⚠️

Avoid overuse in daily chat

Do not use '忧愁' for small, daily annoyances like a flat tire. Use '烦恼' or '麻烦' instead to sound more native.

🌍

Literary influence in Chinese

The word is frequently found in classical Chinese poetry. It carries a heavy, traditional aesthetic of melancholy often associated with autumn or separation.

Word Origin

The character '忧' contains '心' (heart), indicating a mental state. '愁' combines '秋' (autumn) and '心', reflecting the traditional Chinese poetic association of autumn with sadness and reflection.

Cultural Context

In Chinese culture, '忧愁' is deeply linked to the 'scholar-official' tradition, where intellectuals expressed their concern for the country and people through poetry. It is a refined way to describe emotional weight.

Memory Tip

Think of the radicals: 忧 (heart + worry) and 愁 (autumn + heart). It's the 'heart' feeling the 'worry' of 'autumn' falling leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

悲伤通常是对具体不幸事件的直接反应,比较强烈且短暂;而忧愁则是一种更为缓和、持续时间更长的心理状态,往往伴随着对未来的担忧。

在现代口语中,人们更倾向于使用“烦恼”、“担心”或“难过”。“忧愁”一词带有一定的文学色彩,在书面语或表达深刻情感时使用更为自然。

你可以说“他满面忧愁”或者“他脸上写满了忧愁”,这些表达方式能生动地描绘出一个人内心沉重、眉头紧锁的状态。

在大多数语境下,忧愁是负面情绪。但在诗歌中,有时也会出现“淡淡的忧愁”,这被视为一种审美体验,表达一种不至于痛苦的怀旧或感伤。

Test Yourself

fill blank

面对未来的不确定性,他心中充满了___。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 忧愁

句子描述的是对未来的不确定感,属于负面心理状态,故选忧愁。

Score: /1

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