黯然神伤 (àn rán shén shāng) — to feel dejected; to be in low spirits; to be sad and dispirited

Definition

A literary idiom for being deeply saddened or dispirited (often in loss or parting). Written/formal in tone; conveys a heavier, more soul-level grief than plain 'sad'.

idiom
to feel dejectedto be in low spiritsto be sad and dispirited

Examples

  • ，黯然神伤，。
    Tīng dào zhè ge huài xiāo xi, tā àn rán shén shāng, yí jù huà yě shuō bù chū lái.
    Upon hearing the bad news, he felt dejected and couldn't say a word.
  • ，黯然神伤，。
    Wàng zhe kōng dàng dàng de fáng jiān, tā àn rán shén shāng, xiǎng qǐ le shì qù de qīn rén.
    Staring at the empty room, she was overcome with grief, thinking of her departed loved ones.
  • ，黯然神伤，。
    Lí bié zhī jì, liǎng rén àn rán shén shāng, mò mò wú yǔ.
    At the moment of parting, the two were dejected and silent.

Origin

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 →

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
示示shìgod; deity
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn神shén
Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Open 神 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 傷; 伤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
𥏻
𥏻𥏻傷shāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傷 shows 人, a person, and uses 𥏻 to give the sound; the simplified 伤 is a later shorthand.

Open 伤 →

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