Browse "Emotions" Characters

Every character has an origin. Discover the pictographs, myths, and history behind each Chinese character — with pinyin, stroke order, HSK level, and audio pronunciation.

认错

rèn cuò

‘认错’ (rèn cuò) literally combines ‘认’ (to

道德

dào dé

道德 (dào dé) is a compound noun meaning 'morali

运气

yùn qì

运气 (yùn qì) literally combines 运 (yùn), mean

亲近

qīn jìn

‘亲近’ is a verb meaning to draw close to someon

走运

zǒu yùn

'Zǒu yùn' literally combines 'zǒu' (to go, to m

走神

zǒu shén

‘走神’ literally means 'the spirit (or mind) wal

卖关子

mài guānzi

'卖关子' (mài guānzi) is an idiomatic verb meani

谦让

qiān ràng

谦让 (qiān ràng) is a compound noun expressing t

让步

ràng bù

让步 literally means 'to yield a step'—'让' (ràn

倾诉

qīng sù

倾诉 (qīng sù) is a verb meaning 'to confide' or

控诉

kòng sù

控诉 (kòng sù) is a formal, often emotionally ch

诉苦

sù kǔ

‘诉苦’ literally combines ‘诉’ (sù), meaning

面色

miàn sè

面 (miàn) means 'face', and 色 (sè) means 'color

狂舞

kuáng wǔ

狂舞 (kuáng wǔ) literally combines 狂 (kuáng),

笑柄

xiào bǐng

‘笑柄’ literally combines ‘xiào’ (to laugh) a

哄笑

hōng xiào

‘哄笑’ refers to a sudden, collective burst of l

苦笑

kǔ xiào

'Kǔ xiào' (bitter smile) describes a facial expr

嘲笑

cháo xiào

嘲笑 means 'to mock' or 'to ridicule' — it descri

笑话

xiào hua

‘笑话’ literally combines ‘笑’ (to laugh) and

微笑

wēi xiào

微笑 (wēi xiào) literally combines 微 (wēi), me

离谱

lí pǔ

离谱 literally means 'off the musical score'—'离'

离婚

lí hūn

离婚 (lí hūn) literally means 'to depart from ma

知己

zhī jǐ

‘知己’ (zhī jǐ) literally means ‘knowing ones

知音

zhī yīn

‘Zhī yīn’ literally means ‘one who knows your

无知

wú zhī

‘Wú zhī’ literally means ‘without knowledge’

目不转睛

mù bù zhuǎn jīng

‘目不转睛’ literally means ‘eyes do not turn (a

真话

zhēn huà

真话 literally means 'true speech' — combining 真

天真

tiān zhēn

天真 (tiān zhēn) literally combines 天 (tiān, '

真诚

zhēn chéng

真诚 (zhēn chéng) is an adjective meaning 'since

真正

zhēn zhèng

真正 means 'real', 'genuine', or 'authentic' — em

百年好合

bǎi nián hǎo hé

百年好合 is a traditional Chinese wedding blessing

玩得开心

wán de kāi xīn

'玩得开心' is a common verb phrase meaning 'to hav

玩火

wán huǒ

‘玩火’ literally means 'to play with fire', but

好玩

hǎo wán

'Hǎo wán' literally combines 'hǎo' (good) and '

退步

tuì bù

'退步' (tuì bù) literally means 'to step back'

享乐

xiǎng lè

享乐 (xiǎng lè) literally combines 享 (to enjoy,

乐于

lè yú

乐于 (lè yú) is a compound expression meaning 'w

乐观

lè guān

‘乐观’ (lè guān) is an adjective meaning 'opti

乐趣

lè qù

‘乐趣’ (lè qù) is a compound noun meaning ‘pl

失望

shī wàng

失望 (shī wàng) literally means 'to lose hope'