怅然 (chàng rán) — disappointed; upset

Definition

Literary/formal adjective for a lingering feeling of disappointment or sadness, often after hopes fall through. Almost always followed by 若失 or paired with a look, gesture, or sigh.

adjective
disappointedupset

Examples

  • ，，怅然。
    Tīng dào zhè ge jié guǒ, tā yí gè rén zuò zài nà lǐ, shén qíng chàng rán.
    Upon hearing the result, he sat there alone with a disappointed look.
  • 怅然，。
    Tā chàng rán dì yáo le yáo tóu, méi yǒu shuō huà.
    She shook her head disappointedly without saying a word.
  • 怅然。
    Zhè cì shī bài ràng tā gǎn dào shí fēn chàng rán.
    This failure made him feel extremely upset.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

怅chàngdejected
然ránlike that

The dejection of 怅 is presented as a lingering feeling by 然.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

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