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失意 (shī yì) — to be frustrated, disappointed, or thwarted (especially in aspirations or relationships)

Definition

A set-state verb meaning 'to feel thwarted/let down', usually about life goals, career, or romance (not small daily hassles). Pairs with 心里 or 在…上, e.g. 心里失意, 在爱情上失意.

verb
to be frustrateddisappointedor thwarted (especially in aspirations or relationships)

Examples

  • ，失意。
    Tā zuì jìn gōng zuò hěn bú shùn, cháng cháng gǎn dào shī yì.
    He has been unlucky at work lately and often feels frustrated.
  • ，失意。
    Kǎo shì méi kǎo hǎo, tā xīn lǐ hěn shī yì.
    She didn't do well on the exam and felt very disappointed.
  • ，。
    Tā zài ài qíng shàng shī guò hěn duō cì yì, dàn hái méi fàng qì.
    He has been frustrated in love many times, but he hasn't given up.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

失shīlose
意yìaspiration

失 means lose and 意 means aspiration, together giving disappointment.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape is explained as a fallen person's footprint surrounded by drops of blood; another reading pairs 手 (hand) and 乙 to show something falling from a hand.

Open 失 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 意 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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