Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
悲观 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
悲观
bēiguān
pessimistic
HSK 6, a, 18 strokes, rank #10323, Hard
bēiguān(bei1guan1)bei guan T1
1pessimistic
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
悲观(悲觀)bēiguān(bei1guan1)
悲观 (bēi guān) refers to a pessimistic outlook or attitude where one expects negative outcomes and focuses on the worst aspects of a situation. This word is often used in discussions about mental health, philosophy, and personal attitudes, indicating a tendency to see life through a negative lens.
Strokes18Frequency#10323DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, being labeled as 悲观 can sometimes carry a social stigma, as it contrasts with the cultural emphasis on resilience and collective harmony. People may be encouraged to adopt a more optimistic viewpoint for the sake of group morale.
Memory tip
Think of 悲 (bēi) as 'sad' (悲伤, bēi shāng) and 观 (guān) as 'view'—so together, 悲观 means 'sad view.' Imagine looking through a cloudy lens that distorts everything into a gloomy scene, reinforcing the idea of pessimism.
Meanings of 悲观
bēiguān(bei1guan1)
1pessimistic
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 悲观 means.
About 悲观
悲观Simplified
悲觀Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#10323Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 悲观
Podcast: 悲观
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 悲观
Quick Contrast
消极 (xiāojí) - use 悲观 when specifically referring to a pessimistic outlook, whereas 消极 emphasizes a general negativity or passivity.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 悲观 (bēi guān) is generally used in more serious contexts and can carry a negative connotation. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations, and watch out for the tone, as mispronouncing it may lead to misunderstanding.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 悲观 connects well with other adjectives describing attitudes and emotions. Focus on its usage in describing behaviors or views in various contexts, and consider learning related terms like 乐观 (lè guān, optimistic) to see the contrast.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 悲观 with 沮丧 (jǔ sàng), which means 'depressed.' For example, saying '我很悲观，因为我感到沮丧' (I am pessimistic because I feel depressed) incorrectly conflates the terms. Instead, clarify the difference by saying '我很悲观，认为未来没有希望' (I am pessimistic, believing there is no hope for the future).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 悲观
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 悲观, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 悲观 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 悲观?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 悲观 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.
悲观 (bēi guān) refers to a pessimistic outlook or attitude where one expects negative outcomes and focuses on the worst aspects of a situation. This word is often used in discussions about mental health, philosophy, and personal attitudes, indicating a tendency to see life through a negative lens.
When to use 悲观
Be mindful that 悲观 (bēi guān) is generally used in more serious contexts and can carry a negative connotation. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations, and watch out for the tone, as mispronouncing it may lead to misunderstanding.
悲观 or something close to it
消极 (xiāojí) - use 悲观 when specifically referring to a pessimistic outlook, whereas 消极 emphasizes a general negativity or passivity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 悲观 with 沮丧 (jǔ sàng), which means 'depressed.' For example, saying '我很悲观，因为我感到沮丧' (I am pessimistic because I feel depressed) incorrectly conflates the terms. Instead, clarify the difference by saying '我很悲观，认为未来没有希望' (I am pessimistic, believing there is no hope for the future).
Write 悲观
悲
观
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 悲观 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 悲观
悲观 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
现在看来似乎____论者是正确的。
It looks as if the pessimists are being proved right.
