感到

• Pinyin: gǎn dào
• Hanzi breakdown: 感 = 咸 (xián, phonetic) + 心 (heart); 到 = 至 (arrive) + 刂 (knife radical)

Meaning

To feel; to sense. Used to express an internal emotional or physical sensation.

Typically followed by an adjective or short phrase describing the feeling. More formal than 觉得, and often used in written Chinese or when describing emotional reactions to events.

Examples

1. 听到这个消息，我感到很高兴。 I felt very happy when I heard the news.
2. 他感到有点累，想早点回家。 He feels a bit tired and wants to go home early.
3. 第一次来北京，她感到非常兴奋。 She felt very excited when she first came to Beijing.

Usage Guide

Context: emotional expression, written Chinese, news reporting

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 我感到很幸福。(I feel very happy.)
• 他感到压力很大。(He feels a lot of pressure.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'我感到了一本书' — 感到 is for emotions and sensations, not physical objects. Use 拿到 or 找到 for physical things.

Origin & History

Compound of 感 (to feel, sense) and 到 (to arrive at, to reach), literally meaning 'to feel to the point of.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal