Definitions

chóu (verb) to worry; to be anxious
chóu (noun) sorrow; melancholy

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "愁", conveying sorrow or worry, structurally combines the element "秋" representing autumn with "心" signifying heart, an etymological composition that visually suggests a heart affected by the autumn season to imply melancholy. This linkage originates from classical perceptions of autumn as a time of fading vitality and gathering darkness, naturally correlating with human emotions of reflection and sadness. Over time, the semantic scope of "愁" broadened from its initial seasonal nuance to denote general mental distress, encompassing anxiety, grief, and persistent concern, while its foundational imagery of the heart beneath autumn remained unchanged, continuously reinforcing the conceptual interplay between natural cycles and human sentiment.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我最近有点发

Wǒ zuìjìn yǒudiǎn fāchóu.

I've been a bit worried lately.

他正在为考试发

Tā zhèngzài wèi kǎoshì fāchóu.

He is worrying about the exam.

她脸上布满了忧

Tā liǎn shàng bùmǎn le yōuchóu.

Her face is covered with sorrow.

别为这点小事犯

Bié wèi zhè diǎn xiǎoshì fànchóu.

Don't fret over such a small matter.

未来的不确定性令人

Wèilái de bù quèdìng xìng lìng rén chóu.

The uncertainty of the future makes people anxious.

生活的压力使他白了头。

Shēnghuó de yālì shǐ tā chóu bái le tóu.

The pressures of life have turned his hair white with worry.

望着窗外的雨,他心中满是乡

Wàngzhe chuāng wài de yǔ, tā xīn zhōng mǎn shì xiāngchóu.

Gazing at the rain outside the window, his heart is filled with homesickness.

解决这个复杂的问题需要智慧,光发是没用的。

Jiějué zhège fùzá de wèntí xūyào zhìhuì, guāng fāchóu shì méi yòng de.

Solving this complex problem requires wisdom; just worrying is useless.