哀愁 (āi chóu) — (stative verb) to be sad, to be sorrowful; (nou… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A literary word for deep sadness, used more in writing and music than in everyday speech. As a stative verb it means 'to feel sorrowful'; as a noun it refers to the sorrow itself.

verb

(stative verb) to be sadto be sorrowful

noun

sadnesssorrow

Examples

哀愁。
Tā de yǎn shén lǐ chōng mǎn le shēn shēn de āi chóu.
His eyes were filled with deep sorrow.
，哀愁。
Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā fēi cháng āi chóu.
Upon hearing this news, she became very sad.
哀愁。
Zhè shǒu qǔ zi biǎo dá le wú jìn de āi chóu.
This piece of music expresses endless sorrow.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

哀āisorrow

哀 and 愁 both express sadness, so together they mean sorrow or grief.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

衣

衣yī哀āi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

哀 combines 口 (mouth) with 衣 (yī), which gives it its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

秋心愁

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

秋

秋qiū愁chóu

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

愁 combines 秋, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart.

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