Meanings of 发愁
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Podcast: 发愁
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AI Study Notes for 发愁
愁 (chóu) vs 发愁 (fāchóu): use 发愁 when emphasizing the act of worrying rather than simply feeling sad or troubled.
Be careful not to confuse 发愁 with other words like 担心 (dānxīn), which also means 'to worry', but is generally used in less severe contexts. 发愁 is more informal and often reflects a deeper emotional state. Common collocations include 发愁的事 (things to worry about) and 发愁的心情 (worried mood).
As an HSK 5 word, 发愁 connects to vocabulary related to emotions and mental states, such as 担心 (worry) and 烦恼 (troubles). Students should focus on using it in context, especially in conversations about personal feelings or situations causing stress.
Learners often confuse 发愁 with 忧愁 (yōuchóu), which means 'melancholy', using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我很发愁' when '我很忧愁' would be more appropriate for expressing deep sadness.
Pronunciation of 发愁
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Jason Explains 发愁 to You
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Component Characters
How to say to worry in Chinese
“to worry” in Chinese is发愁
发愁 (fāchóu) means to worry or fret about something, often leading to feelings of anxiety or sadness. It is commonly used when discussing concerns over personal issues, relationships, or future uncertainties. The nuance suggests a persistent state of worry rather than a fleeting thought.
When to use 发愁
Be careful not to confuse 发愁 with other words like 担心 (dānxīn), which also means 'to worry', but is generally used in less severe contexts. 发愁 is more informal and often reflects a deeper emotional state. Common collocations include 发愁的事 (things to worry about) and 发愁的心情 (worried mood).
发愁 or something close to it
愁 (chóu) vs 发愁 (fāchóu): use 发愁 when emphasizing the act of worrying rather than simply feeling sad or troubled.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 发愁 with 忧愁 (yōuchóu), which means 'melancholy', using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我很发愁' when '我很忧愁' would be more appropriate for expressing deep sadness.
Write 发愁
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Practice writing 发愁 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 发愁
发愁 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我大腿太粗，肚子上也净是赘肉，让我很____。
My bulging thighs and flabby stomach made me depressed.
Example Sentences for 发愁 (3)
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Frequently Asked Questions about 发愁
You might say, '我因为工作的事发愁' (I'm worried about work-related issues).
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