灰心

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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"灰心" literally combines "ash" () and "heart" (), metaphorically describing a heart turned to ashes, meaning to lose courage or hope. It is commonly used to express feelings of discouragement or disappointment after setbacks.

Common Contexts

This word often appears in contexts involving challenges, failures, or slow progress, emphasizing the emotional response of losing motivation.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 遇到困难灰心 (lose heart when facing difficulties): used to advise persistence despite obstacles.
  • 灰心 (don't lose heart): a common encouragement phrase.
  • 灰心 (a bit discouraged): expressing mild disappointment.

Usage Notes

"灰心" is more emotional and subjective than simply "失败" (failure). It focuses on the internal feeling rather than the event itself. Avoid confusing it with "馁" which is similar but slightly more formal. "灰心" is often used in spoken and written Chinese to encourage or describe emotional states.

Example Sentences

He didn't do well on the exam and felt a bit discouraged.

Don't lose heart when facing difficulties; keep working hard.

Although the project is progressing slowly, we must not lose heart.