Meanings of 操心
By ear
Play it, then pick what 操心 means.
About 操心
Podcast: 操心
Podcast: 操心
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 操心
担心 (dān xīn) vs 操心 (cāo xīn): use 担心 when expressing worry about one's own feelings or situations, while 操心 implies taking on concern for others' issues.
操心 is typically used in informal settings and can express both genuine concern and excessive worry. A common mistake is to use it in overly formal contexts or to confuse it with similar phrases that imply different levels of concern. For example, saying '我不想操心' (I don't want to worry) is correct, but '我不想关心' (I don't want to care) has a different nuance.
As an HSK 5 vocabulary word,操心 connects with other words around emotional states and responsibilities, such as 担心 (dān xīn, to worry). Students should focus on how it is used in various contexts, including formal vs. informal situations.
Learners often confuse 操心 with other terms like 关心 (guān xīn, to care about), which can lead to saying '我很关心我的工作' instead of '我在操心我的工作' when emphasizing worry.
Pronunciation of 操心
Drill the tone of 操心 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 操心 to You
Let me explain 操心 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 操心 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 操心?
Learning Lab
Knowing 操心 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Component Characters
How to say to worry about in Chinese
“to worry about” in Chinese is操心
操心 (cāo xīn) means to worry about or to be concerned with something. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is taking on responsibility for issues that may not directly involve them, reflecting a sense of care or anxiety about outcomes.
When to use 操心
操心 is typically used in informal settings and can express both genuine concern and excessive worry. A common mistake is to use it in overly formal contexts or to confuse it with similar phrases that imply different levels of concern. For example, saying '我不想操心' (I don't want to worry) is correct, but '我不想关心' (I don't want to care) has a different nuance.
操心 or something close to it
担心 (dān xīn) vs 操心 (cāo xīn): use 担心 when expressing worry about one's own feelings or situations, while 操心 implies taking on concern for others' issues.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 操心 with other terms like 关心 (guān xīn, to care about), which can lead to saying '我很关心我的工作' instead of '我在操心我的工作' when emphasizing worry.
Write 操心
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 操心 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 操心
操心 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. 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.
他工作太累，而且非常____。
He's overworking and has got a lot on his mind.
Example Sentences for 操心 (3)
Ask Jason
Have a question about 操心?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Frequently Asked Questions about 操心
No, 操心 implies a sense of concern or responsibility, so it should only be used when you genuinely care.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 操心?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.