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担忧 (dān yōu) — to worry, to be concerned

Definition

担忧 (dānyōu) is a written, more formal way to say 'to worry' — similar to 担心 but mostly used in writing. Conveys a sustained concern rather than a passing anxiety.

verb
to worryto be concerned

Examples

  • 担忧。
    Wǒ hěn dān yōu tā de jiàn kāng.
    I'm very worried about his health.
  • 担忧？
    Nǐ dān yōu míng tiān de kǎo shì ma?
    Are you worried about tomorrow's exam?
  • 担忧。
    Zhè jiàn shì ràng wǒ gǎn dào dān yōu.
    This matter makes me feel worried.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

担dānworry
忧yōuworry

“担” and “忧” both carry the sense of worry, so the word emphasizes being anxious.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
旦
旦dàn担dàn
Same sound today

In 担, the left part 扌 is the hand, showing that the action involves using the hand. The right part 旦 shows how it sounds.

Open 担 →

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
心心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
尤
尤yóu忧yōu
Same sound today

The heart part 心 marks a feeling, and 尤 gives the sound.

Open 忧 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Emotions & Feelings

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