惆

chóu

周 + 忄

Definitions

chóu forlorn; vexed; disappointed

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 周 represents the sound.

Semantic: 忄 Phonetic: 周

About

惆 is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side component 忄, a vertical form of the heart radical 心, signals that the character relates to emotions or mental states. The right-side component 周, pronounced zhōu and meaning 'circumference' or 'complete', primarily serves as the phonetic indicator to give the character its sound. Together, the components yield a character that means melancholy, disappointment, or despondency. Almost always, it is paired with 怅 (chàng) to form the disyllabic word 惆怅 (chóuchàng), which denotes a lingering sadness, regret, and emotional distress over unfulfilled desires or lost opportunities.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他感到有些惆怅。

Tā gǎndào yǒuxiē chóuchàng.

He feels a bit melancholy.

离别总是让人惆怅。

Líbié zǒng shì ràng rén chóuchàng.

Parting always makes people melancholy.

看到秋天落叶，她心中惆怅。

Kàndào qiūtiān luòyè, tā xīnzhōng chóuchàng.

Seeing the autumn leaves fall, she feels melancholy in her heart.

他惆怅地望着远方的天空。

Tā chóuchàng de wàngzhe yuǎnfāng de tiānkōng.

He gazes melancholy at the distant sky.

这种惆怅的情绪很难消散。

Zhè zhǒng chóuchàng de qíngxù hěn nán xiāosàn.

This kind of melancholy emotion is hard to dissipate.

人生难免会有惆怅的时刻。

Rénshēng nánmiǎn huì yǒu chóuchàng de shíkè.

Life inevitably has moments of melancholy.

尽管阳光明媚，他依然感到莫名的惆怅。

Jǐnguǎn yángguāng míngmèi, tā yīrán gǎndào mòmíng de chóuchàng.

Although the sunshine is bright, he still feels an inexplicable melancholy.

岁月的流逝带给人们无尽的惆怅。

Suìyuè de liúshì dài gěi rénmen wújìn de chóuchàng.

The passage of time brings people endless melancholy.

Related Characters

Component: 周

Component: 忄

惆