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消沉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
消沉xiāochéndepressedHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #9488, Very Hard
消沉xiāochénbad moodHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #9488, Very Hard
消沉xiāochénlow spiritHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #9488, Very Hard
xiāochén(xiao1chen2)xiao chen T1
  1. 1depressed
  2. 2bad mood
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March 24, 2026

消沉xiāochén(xiao1chen2)

消沉 (xiāo chén) refers to a state of feeling depressed or having low spirits. It is commonly used to describe someone who is experiencing sadness or a lack of motivation, often in response to challenging situations or emotional distress.

Strokes17Frequency#9488DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing feelings of 消沉 can sometimes carry a stigma, as there is a cultural emphasis on maintaining harmony and a positive demeanor. However, discussing mental health is becoming more accepted in recent years, especially among younger generations.

Memory Tip

Think of 消 (xiāo) as 'to eliminate' and 沉 (chén) as 'to sink'—together, they evoke the image of someone sinking into a void of negativity, eliminating their joy. Visualize a balloon (representing happiness) that slowly deflates and sinks, embodying the feeling of being消沉.

Meanings of 消沉

xiāochén(xiao1chen2)
1depressed
2bad mood
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About 消沉

消沉Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 消沉

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AI Study Notes for 消沉

Quick Contrast

消极 (xiāojí) - use 消沉 when describing a deeper emotional state of depression rather than a general negative attitude.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 消沉 with similar terms like 忧郁 (yōu yù), which has a more poetic or melancholic connotation. This word is more informal and is often used in everyday conversations, especially among friends discussing personal feelings.

HSK Study Tips

While 消沉 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it is relevant for learners at HSK 5 or higher who are exploring emotional expressions. Focus on understanding the nuances of mood-related vocabulary and how they can be used in various contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 消沉 to describe physical tiredness or fatigue. For example, saying '我今天很消沉因为我累' (Wǒ jīntiān hěn xiāo chén yīnwèi wǒ lèi) is incorrect; it should be '我今天很累' (Wǒ jīntiān hěn lèi) to express tiredness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 消沉

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Component Characters

消xiāoto disappear
HSK 710 strokes氵
View full entry
沉chénto submerge
HSK 57 strokes氵
View full entry

How to say depressed in Chinese

“depressed” in Chinese is消沉xiāochén

消沉 (xiāo chén) refers to a state of feeling depressed or having low spirits. It is commonly used to describe someone who is experiencing sadness or a lack of motivation, often in response to challenging situations or emotional distress.

When to use 消沉

Be careful not to confuse 消沉 with similar terms like 忧郁 (yōu yù), which has a more poetic or melancholic connotation. This word is more informal and is often used in everyday conversations, especially among friends discussing personal feelings.

消沉 or something close to it

消极 (xiāojí) - use 消沉 when describing a deeper emotional state of depression rather than a general negative attitude.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 消沉 to describe physical tiredness or fatigue. For example, saying '我今天很消沉因为我累' (Wǒ jīntiān hěn xiāo chén yīnwèi wǒ lèi) is incorrect; it should be '我今天很累' (Wǒ jīntiān hěn lèi) to express tiredness.

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消
沉

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Frequently Asked Questions about 消沉

You can say, '最近我感到很消沉' (Zuìjìn wǒ gǎndào hěn xiāo chén), meaning 'Recently, I have been feeling quite depressed.'

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