Meanings of 辜负
By ear
Play it, then pick what 辜负 means.
About 辜负
Podcast: 辜负
Podcast: 辜负
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 辜负
失望 (shīwàng) — use 辜负 when emphasizing the act of letting someone down, rather than just the feeling of disappointment.
辜负 is often used in formal contexts, particularly in discussions about relationships or responsibilities. Common collocations include 辜负期望 (to let down expectations) and 辜负信任 (to betray trust). Be cautious with the tones; mispronouncing either character could change the meaning entirely.
As an HSK Level 6 word, 辜负 connects to themes of emotional expression and interpersonal relationships. Students should focus on understanding its usage in complex sentences and practice with phrases that convey disappointment or unmet expectations.
Learners often confuse 辜负 with 负担 (fù dān), which means 'burden.' A wrong example could be saying 我辜负了我的负担 (I let down my burden), which should be 我辜负了期望 (I let down the expectations).
Pronunciation of 辜负
Drill the tone of 辜负, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 辜负 to you
Let me explain 辜负 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 辜负 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 辜负?
Learning Lab
Knowing 辜负 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 fail to live up (to expectations) in Chinese
“to fail to live up (to expectations)” in Chinese is辜负
辜负 (gu1 fu4) means to fail to meet someone's expectations or to let someone down. It is commonly used in contexts where a person feels disappointed due to unmet promises or hopes, conveying a sense of betrayal or unworthiness, especially in relationships and commitments.
When to use 辜负
辜负 is often used in formal contexts, particularly in discussions about relationships or responsibilities. Common collocations include 辜负期望 (to let down expectations) and 辜负信任 (to betray trust). Be cautious with the tones; mispronouncing either character could change the meaning entirely.
辜负 or something close to it
失望 (shīwàng) — use 辜负 when emphasizing the act of letting someone down, rather than just the feeling of disappointment.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 辜负 with 负担 (fù dān), which means 'burden.' A wrong example could be saying 我辜负了我的负担 (I let down my burden), which should be 我辜负了期望 (I let down the expectations).
Write 辜负
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 辜负 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 辜负?
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 200 AI credits.
Frequently asked questions about 辜负
Yes, 辜负 is used to express disappointment, failure, or betrayal, making it inherently negative.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 辜负?
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.