Definition
心酸 (xīn suān) describes a poignant, bittersweet sadness felt when seeing someone else's suffering or recalling hardships — it's a heartache tinged with empathy. It's more specific than 难过 (general sadness) and less intense than 悲伤 (deep sorrow); the 'sour' character hints at a pained, empathetic ache.
adjective
sorrowfulheartachepoignant sadness (often from empathy or pity)
Easily confused
- 辛酸xīn suānsound-alikebitter, heartbreaking, sad and miserable (of life, memories, emotions)
Examples
- ，心酸。Tīng dào tā xiǎo shíhou de zāoyù, tā fēicháng xīn suān.Hearing about his childhood experiences, she felt very saddened.
- ，心酸。Měi dāng xiǎng qǐ nà duàn jiānkǔ de rìzi, tā dōu huì gǎndào xīn suān.Whenever he remembers that period of hardship, he feels heartache.
- ，心酸。Kàn dào nà wèi lǎorén de bèiyǐng, wǒ bùjīn gǎndào yí zhèn xīn suān.Seeing the old man's back figure, I couldn't help feeling a pang of sorrow.
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