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忧虑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
忧虑yōulǜto worryHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #12060, Very Hard
忧虑yōulǜanxiety (about)HSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #12060, Very Hard
yōulǜ(you1lu:4)you lu: T1
  1. 1to worry
  2. 2anxiety (about)
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March 24, 2026

忧虑(憂慮)yōulǜ(you1lu:4)

忧虑 (yōulǜ) means to feel worried or anxious about something. It is often used in contexts where individuals are concerned about personal issues, health, relationships, or even broader societal problems. The term conveys a sense of unease and apprehension.

Strokes17Frequency#12060DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, expressing 忧虑 can sometimes be seen as a sign of caring or responsibility, especially regarding family and community. It reflects the cultural value placed on interpersonal relationships and collective well-being.

Memory tip

Imagine a person with a heavy heart, carrying a large 'U' (for '忧') on their back, symbolizing the weight of their worries. The '虑' part looks like a person tangled in thoughts, representing the mental clutter that comes with anxiety. Together, they depict the burden of worry.

Meanings of 忧虑

yōulǜ(you1lu:4)
1to worry
2anxiety (about)
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About 忧虑

忧虑Simplified
憂慮Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 忧虑

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AI study notes for 忧虑

Quick Contrast

焦虑 (jiāolǜ) - use 忧虑 (yōulǜ) for concerns about personal issues, while 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) implies a more intense, often chronic state of anxiety.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include using 忧虑 in contexts that are too casual; it is more formal than simply saying 'worry.' Be cautious of the tones: the first character is pronounced with a high tone (yōu), while the second has a falling tone (lǜ). Common collocations include 忧虑健康 (worry about health) and 忧虑未来 (worry about the future).

HSK Study Tips

As an advanced level expression, 忧虑 can be connected to other HSK words that deal with emotions or mental states, such as 担心 (dānxīn) means 'to worry' as well. Students should focus on the nuances between these similar terms to express varying degrees of concern.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 忧虑 with the more casual term 担心 in inappropriate contexts. For example, saying '我对明天的考试感到忧虑' (I feel worried about tomorrow's exam) is correct, but using it to express casual concern, like '我忧虑我的晚餐' (I'm worried about my dinner), sounds overly formal.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 忧虑

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Component characters

忧yōuto worry
HSK 67 strokes忄
View full entry
虑lǜto think over
HSK 310 strokes心
View full entry

How to say to worry in Chinese

“to worry” in Chinese is忧虑yōulǜ

忧虑 (yōulǜ) means to feel worried or anxious about something. It is often used in contexts where individuals are concerned about personal issues, health, relationships, or even broader societal problems. The term conveys a sense of unease and apprehension.

When to use 忧虑

Common mistakes include using 忧虑 in contexts that are too casual; it is more formal than simply saying 'worry.' Be cautious of the tones: the first character is pronounced with a high tone (yōu), while the second has a falling tone (lǜ). Common collocations include 忧虑健康 (worry about health) and 忧虑未来 (worry about the future).

忧虑 or something close to it

焦虑 (jiāolǜ) - use 忧虑 (yōulǜ) for concerns about personal issues, while 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) implies a more intense, often chronic state of anxiety.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 忧虑 with the more casual term 担心 in inappropriate contexts. For example, saying '我对明天的考试感到忧虑' (I feel worried about tomorrow's exam) is correct, but using it to express casual concern, like '我忧虑我的晚餐' (I'm worried about my dinner), sounds overly formal.

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忧
虑

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Frequently asked questions about 忧虑

While both mean 'to worry,' 忧虑 often implies a deeper, more persistent anxiety, while 担心 can be used for more immediate concerns.

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