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.

平庸

píng yōng

平庸 (píng yōng) is an adjective meaning 'medioc

袒庇

tǎn bì

袒庇 (tǎn bì) is a formal, somewhat literary ver

独树一帜

dú shù yī zhì

‘Dú shù yī zhì’ literally means ‘to set up

贴心

tiē xīn

‘贴心’ literally means 'heart-fitting'—combinin

云帆

yún fān

‘云帆’ literally means ‘cloud sail’—a poetic

崭然

zhǎn rán

'Zhǎn rán' is an adverb meaning 'strikingly,' 'p

土崩瓦解

tǔ bēng wǎ jiě

‘土崩瓦解’ is a vivid four-character idiom that

崩溃

bēng kuì

崩溃 (bēng kuì) is a verb meaning 'to collapse'

忠诚

zhōng chéng

忠诚 (zhōng chéng) is a compound word meaning 'l

临崖

lín yá

‘临崖’ literally means ‘facing the cliff’ — c

崇洋媚外

chóng yáng mèi wài

‘Chóng yáng mèi wài’ literally combines four

崇敬

chóng jìng

崇敬 (chóng jìng) expresses deep, solemn respect

崇拜者

chóng bài zhě

'Chóng bài zhě' literally combines 崇 (chóng,

崇高

chóng gāo

崇高 (chóng gāo) is an adjective meaning 'lofty,

崇尚

chóng shàng

崇尚 is a formal, written verb meaning 'to esteem

崇拜

chóng bài

崇拜 (chóng bài) is a verb meaning 'to worship'

峻节

jùn jié

‘峻节’ is a literary and formal noun meaning 'up

峭刻

qiào kè

‘峭刻’ is an adjective describing a style, tone,

屡教不改

lǚ jiào bù gǎi

This four-character idiom literally breaks down as

不屑一顾

bù xiè yī gù

‘不屑一顾’ literally means ‘not deigning to cas

不屑

bù xiè

‘不屑’ is a verb meaning ‘to disdain’, ‘to lo

屏息

bǐngxī

屏息 literally combines 屏 (bǐng), meaning 'to su

屁滚尿流

pì gǔn niào liú

'Pì gǔn niào liú' is a vivid, hyperbolic idiom

屁话

pì huà

'Pì huà' literally combines 'pì' (fart) and 'hu

行尸走肉

xíng shī zǒu ròu

‘行尸走肉’ (xíng shī zǒu ròu) literally mean

社交尴尬

shè jiāo gān gà

'社交尴尬' (shè jiāo gān gà) literally combine

化解尴尬

huà jiě gān gà

化解尴尬 literally means 'to transform and untie a

不尴尬

bù gān gà

'不尴尬' literally means 'not awkward' and functio

尴尬癌

gān gà ái

'Awkward cancer' is an internet slang term used hu

尴尬症

gān gà zhèng

'尴尬症' is internet slang that humorously mimics

尴尬

gān gà

尴尬 (gān gà) is an adjective describing a stron

尖锐

jiān ruì

'尖锐' (jiān ruì) is a compound adjective formed

尖叫

jiān jiào

尖叫 means 'to shriek' or 'to scream' — a sudden,

寸光

cùn guāng

‘寸光’ (cùn guāng) literally means ‘inch-ligh

寸心

cùn xīn

‘Cùn xīn’ literally means ‘inch-heart’—a po

寝食难安

qǐn shí nán ān

‘寝食难安’ literally means ‘unable to sleep or

春宵

chūn xiāo

春宵 (chūn xiāo) literally combines 春 (chūn),

宏论

hóng lùn

‘宏论’ (hóng lùn) is a formal, literary noun m

宏愿

hóng yuàn

‘宏愿’ (hóng yuàn) is a formal, literary noun

孤芳自赏

gū fāng zì shǎng

‘孤芳自赏’ literally means ‘a solitary flower a