不幸

• Pinyin: bù xìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 (not) + 幸 (fortune, luck) — originally depicting handcuffs escaped, hence luck

Meaning

Unfortunate; unlucky; misfortune. A state of bad luck or tragic circumstances.

Can be used as an adjective (unfortunate), adverb (unfortunately), or noun (misfortune). Common phrases: 不幸的是 (unfortunately), 遭遇不幸 (suffer misfortune), 不幸身亡 (died unfortunately). More formal and serious than casual expressions of bad luck.

Examples

1. 不幸的是，他没能赶上最后一班火车。 Unfortunately, he wasn't able to catch the last train.
2. 她在那场事故中不幸失去了双腿。 She unfortunately lost both legs in that accident.
3. 这个家庭遭受了一连串的不幸。 This family has suffered a series of misfortunes.

Usage Guide

Context: narrative, news, formal speech

Tone: solemn

Do Say

• 他不幸遇难了。(He unfortunately lost his life.)
• 不幸的是，项目被取消了。(Unfortunately, the project was cancelled.)

Don't Say

• 用'不幸'描述小事——'不幸'通常用于严重或悲剧性的情况 (Don't use 不幸 for minor inconveniences — it's typically reserved for serious or tragic situations)

Origin & History

Combination of 不 (not) + 幸 (fortune, luck), meaning absence of good fortune.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal