Keywords: shiluo, 失落, meaning of shiluo, Chinese for lost feeling, Chinese for dejected, feeling empty in Chinese, disappointment in Chinese, shiluo vs shiwang, learn Chinese emotions
Summary: Discover the deep meaning of the Chinese word 失落 (shīluò), a term that goes beyond simple “disappointment” to describe a profound feeling of loss, dejection, and emptiness. This page breaks down its characters, cultural context, and practical usage with 10 example sentences, helping you understand the nuance between 失落 (shīluò) and similar words like 失望 (shīwàng).
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): shīluò
Part of Speech: Adjective, Verb
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To feel a sense of loss, dejection, or listlessness; to have lost something (usually abstract).
In a Nutshell:失落 (shīluò) is the quiet, heavy feeling you get when something you hoped for doesn't happen, or when a meaningful chapter of your life closes. It's a mix of sadness, disappointment, and a hollow sense of “what now?”. It's less of an angry disappointment and more of a personal, sinking feeling of emptiness.
Character Breakdown
失 (shī): To lose, to miss, to fail. Think of this as losing a physical object or missing an opportunity.
落 (luò): To fall, to drop, to go down. This character paints a picture of something descending, like falling leaves or a setting sun.
When combined, 失落 (shīluò) creates a powerful image: the feeling of your spirit or mood “losing” its height and “falling” down. It perfectly captures the emotional drop associated with loss and disappointment.
Cultural Context and Significance
失落 (shīluò) describes a deeply personal and internal emotional state. It's often connected to the gap between one's aspirations (for a career, relationship, or personal goal) and the reality of the outcome. In Chinese culture, where societal and family expectations can be high, the feeling of 失落 can be a common experience when these expectations aren't met.
Comparison to Western Concepts: While it's often translated as “disappointed,” 失落 is different from the English concept. “Disappointment” can be directed outwardly (e.g., “I am disappointed in you.”). 失落, however, is almost exclusively an inward feeling. It’s the emotional aftermath. For example, you might feel 失望 (shīwàng) when your favorite team loses the game. But you feel 失落 (shīluò) the next day, when the excitement is gone and you're left with a hollow feeling. It's the quiet emptiness after the “main event” of the disappointment is over.
Practical Usage in Modern China
失落 (shīluò) is a common word used in everyday conversation, as well as in literature, music, and film. It's used to describe the feeling of a personal setback.
In Conversation: Someone might say “我心里有点儿失落 (wǒ xīnli yǒudiǎnr shīluò)” - “I feel a bit lost/dejected” after a job interview that went poorly or after a friend moves away.
On Social Media: It's often used to express a melancholy mood, perhaps with a thoughtful or artistic photo.
Connotation and Formality: The connotation is entirely negative, describing an unpleasant emotional state. It's suitable for most informal and semi-formal situations when discussing personal feelings.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
考试没通过，他感到非常失落。
Pinyin: Kǎoshì méi tōngguò, tā gǎndào fēicháng shīluò.
English: He felt very dejected after not passing the exam.
Analysis: This is a classic use case. The failure to meet a specific goal (passing the exam) leads directly to the feeling of 失落.
English: In a big city, sometimes even if you're surrounded by people, you will feel lost and lonely.
Analysis: This links 失落 with the modern feeling of urban alienation and loneliness.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
失落 (shīluò) vs. 失望 (shīwàng): This is the most common point of confusion.
失望 (shīwàng - disappointed): This is about an unmet expectation. It's often directed at a specific event, person, or outcome. “我对你很失望” (I am very disappointed in you). It's the initial “ugh, that's not what I wanted” feeling.
失落 (shīluò - dejected/lost): This is the lingering, internal feeling of emptiness after the disappointment. It's more about the void left behind. You feel 失望at the bad news, but you feel 失落because of the bad news.
失落 (shīluò) vs. 失去 (shīqù):
失去 (shīqù - to lose): This verb is used for losing concrete things or established abstract concepts. “我失去了我的工作” (I lost my job).
失落 (shīluò): This is the feeling that results from 失去.
Common Mistake: Using 失落 for losing a physical object.
Incorrect: 我失落了我的钥匙。(Wǒ shīluò le wǒ de yàoshi.) - This sounds like “I felt dejected my keys.”
Correct: 我丢了我的钥匙。(Wǒ diūle wǒ de yàoshi.) - I lost my keys.
Correct: 因为丢了钥匙，我感到很失落。(Yīnwèi diūle yàoshi, wǒ gǎndào hěn shīluò.) - Because I lost my keys, I feel very dejected.
Related Terms and Concepts
失望 (shīwàng) - Disappointment. The direct feeling of an unmet expectation; often the cause of 失落.
难过 (nánguò) - Sad. A more general term for feeling bad or upset. 失落 is a specific type of sadness that includes emptiness.
沮丧 (jǔsàng) - Depressed, dejected. A stronger, heavier, and sometimes more clinical term than 失落.
空虚 (kōngxū) - Empty, void. This describes the core feeling of emptiness that is central to the meaning of 失落.
迷茫 (mímáng) - Confused, adrift. Describes a state of being directionless, which can both cause and result from feeling 失落.
孤独 (gūdú) - Lonely. A feeling of being alone that is often intertwined with 失落.
遗憾 (yíhàn) - Regret, pity. The feeling about a past event you wish had gone differently, which can lead to a long-term sense of 失落.
伤心 (shāngxīn) - Heartbroken, sad. Literally “injured heart,” it implies a more acute pain than the dull ache of 失落.