沮丧

• Pinyin: jǔ sàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 沮 = 氵 + 且 (despondent/dampened); 丧 = simplified form of 喪 (loss/grief)

Meaning

Dejected; disheartened; dispirited. Feeling low-spirited or downhearted as a result of failure or disappointment.

Describes a temporary emotional state of being discouraged. Stronger than 失望 (disappointed) but less severe than 绝望 (desperate). Common in both spoken and written language to describe emotional setbacks.

Examples

1. 考试失利后，他沮丧地坐在角落里，沉默了很久。 After failing the exam, he sat dejectedly in a corner and stayed silent for a long time.
2. 连续几次求职碰壁，她感到十分沮丧，但始终没有放弃。 After being turned down several times in a row, she felt very discouraged, but she never gave up.
3. 沮丧的情绪是暂时的，真正重要的是从挫折中汲取经验、不断成长。 Feeling discouraged is temporary; what really matters is learning from setbacks and continuing to grow.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, psychology, daily life

Tone: empathetic

Do Say

• 即便面对失败，也不要让沮丧的情绪长期左右你的判断和行动。(Even when facing failure, do not let feelings of dejection govern your judgement and actions long-term.)
• 他表现出明显的沮丧情绪，队友们纷纷走上前给予鼓励。(He showed obvious signs of dejection, and his teammates stepped forward one after another to offer encouragement.)

Don't Say

• 我沮丧你 — 沮丧 cannot take a direct object; say 我因你而感到沮丧 or 你让我很沮丧

Origin & History

沮 (despondent/discouraged) + 丧 (lose/bereaved)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal