Chinese Terms for Basic Emotions

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When learning a new language, understanding the words for basic emotions can greatly improve your ability to express yourself and connect with others. In Chinese, there are unique terms for the emotions we all commonly experience. Here are some of the crucial Chinese terms for basic emotions, complete with their definitions and example sentences to help you grasp the context in which they can be used.

高兴 (gāo xìng) – Happy, joyful.
她收到礼物后非常高兴。
Translation: She was very happy after receiving the gift.

悲伤 (bēi shāng) – Sad, sorrowful.
他听到那个消息后变得很悲伤。
Translation: He became very sad when he heard that news.

愤怒 (fèn nù) – Angry, enraged.
当他发现他的手机丢了时,他感到非常愤怒。
Translation: He felt very angry when he discovered his phone was lost.

害怕 (hài pà) – Afraid, scared.
孩子们在黑暗中感到害怕。
Translation: The children felt scared in the dark.

惊讶 (jīng yà) – Surprised, astonished.
她对突然的惊喜感到很惊讶。
Translation: She was very surprised by the sudden pleasant surprise.

厌烦 (yàn fán) – Annoyed, fed up.
他对反复的问题感到厌烦。
Translation: He was annoyed by the repetitive questions.

尴尬 (gān gà) – Embarrassed, awkward.
在众人面前跌倒让她感到非常尴尬。
Translation: Falling down in front of everyone made her feel very embarrassed.

失望 (shī wàng) – Disappointed, let down.
他没能通过考试,感到很失望。
Translation: He felt very disappointed that he didn’t pass the exam.

紧张 (jǐn zhāng) – Nervous, tense.
明天的面试让她感到很紧张。
Translation: She is feeling very nervous about the interview tomorrow.

兴奋 (xīng fèn) – Excited, thrilled.
孩子们听说要去游乐园都非常兴奋。
Translation: The children were very excited to hear that they were going to the amusement park.

感激 (gǎn jī) – Grateful, thankful.
他对她的帮助深表感激。
Translation: He was very grateful for her help.

忧郁 (yōu yù) – Melancholic, depressed.
自从他失去工作以后,他就变得有些忧郁。
Translation: He became somewhat melancholic since he lost his job.

同情 (tóng qíng) – Sympathetic, compassionate.
对于那些不幸的人,我们应该表示同情。
Translation: We should be sympathetic towards those unfortunate people.

满足 (mǎn zú) – Satisfied, content.
一天工作结束后,他感到很满足。
Translation: He felt very satisfied after a day of work.

Having these words in your vocabulary arsenal will certainly enrich your conversations in Chinese, allowing you to express emotions accurately. Remember that language is not just about grammar and vocabulary; it is also about conveying feelings and connecting with others on an emotional level. Keep practicing and immerse yourself in the language as much as possible to intuitively learn the application of these emotional terms in everyday contexts.

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