bēishāng: 悲伤 - Sad, Sorrowful, Grieved

• Keywords: bēishāng, beishang, 悲伤, sad in Chinese, sorrowful, grieved Chinese, Chinese word for sorrow, feeling sad in Mandarin, how to say sad in Chinese, nanguo vs beishang, deep sadness in Chinese.
• Summary for Search Engines: Learn the meaning and use of “悲伤 (bēishāng)”, the Chinese word for deep sadness or sorrow. This page breaks down the characters, explores cultural context, and provides 10+ example sentences. Understand the crucial difference between 悲伤 (bēishāng) and 难过 (nánguò) to express sadness like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bēishāng
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To be sad, sorrowful, or grieved, typically in a deep and profound way.
• In a Nutshell: `悲伤` is not your everyday sadness. It's a heavy, deep emotion often associated with significant loss, tragedy, or heartbreak. Think of the sorrow you'd feel at a funeral or after a major life-altering event. While “sad” is a good starting point for translation, `悲伤` carries a more literary and formal weight than the common word for sad, `难过 (nánguò)`.

• 悲 (bēi): This character is composed of `非 (fēi)` on top of `心 (xīn)`. `心` means “heart.” `非` means “not” or “wrong.” Together, they create a powerful image of a heart that is “not right” or is in a state of wrongness—a broken heart. It signifies grief and sadness.
• 伤 (shāng): This character depicts a person (`人 rén` radical on the left) who has been wounded. It means “to injure,” “wound,” or “injury.” It can refer to both physical and emotional harm.
• Combined Meaning: Putting `悲 (bēi)` and `伤 (shāng)` together creates `悲伤 (bēishāng)`, which literally translates to “grief-wound” or “sorrowful injury.” This powerfully conveys a sense of sadness that is so deep it feels like a painful wound to one's heart or spirit.

In Chinese culture, `悲伤` is a powerful emotion often explored in literature, poetry, films, and music. Classic Tang Dynasty poems frequently dwell on themes of separation from loved ones, the fall of dynasties, and the fleeting nature of life, all of which evoke a deep sense of `悲伤`. Compared to the Western encouragement to “talk about your feelings,” the expression of deep `悲伤` in Chinese culture can sometimes be more restrained and private. It is a profound state that is given weight and respect. You wouldn't use this term lightly. Sharing one's `悲伤` is an act of vulnerability and is typically reserved for close family and friends. This contrasts with the more general use of “sad” in English, which can describe anything from a global tragedy to a rainy day. `悲伤` is reserved for the former.

`悲伤` is used in both spoken and written Chinese, but it always implies a serious level of sadness.

• Formal Situations: It's the appropriate word to use when offering condolences. For example, “听到这个消息，我们都感到非常悲伤” (Hearing this news, we all feel extremely sorrowful).
• Describing Media: You would use it to describe the feeling a sad movie, book, or song gives you. “这部电影的结局太悲伤了” (The ending of this movie is so sad/tragic).
• Personal Heartbreak: It's used for deep personal loss, like a breakup, the death of a pet, or a major personal failure.
• Social Media: While less common for trivial matters, some people might use `悲伤` on social media to express genuine emotional distress or to add a poetic, dramatic flair to a post about a difficult experience.

It is generally considered too strong and formal for minor disappointments.

• Example 1:
• 这是一个让人悲伤的故事。
• Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge ràng rén bēishāng de gùshi.
• English: This is a story that makes people feel sad.
• Analysis: Here, `悲伤` is used as an adjective to describe the nature of the story. It implies the story is tragic or deeply moving.
• Example 2:
• 听到这个坏消息，她悲伤地哭了起来。
• Pinyin: Tīngdào zhège huài xiāoxi, tā bēishāng de kū le qǐlái.
• English: After hearing the bad news, she cried sorrowfully.
• Analysis: The adverbial particle `地 (de)` turns `悲伤` into an adverb describing how she cried. This emphasizes the depth of her sadness.
• Example 3:
• 分手后，他的心里充满了悲伤。
• Pinyin: Fēnshǒu hòu, tā de xīnli chōngmǎn le bēishāng.
• English: After the breakup, his heart was filled with sorrow.
• Analysis: In this sentence, `悲伤` functions as a noun, representing the abstract concept of “sorrow” that fills his heart.
• Example 4:
• 看着窗外的大雨，我突然感到一丝悲伤。
• Pinyin: Kànzhe chuāngwài de dàyǔ, wǒ tūrán gǎndào yì sī bēishāng.
• English: Looking at the heavy rain outside the window, I suddenly felt a touch of melancholy.
• Analysis: `一丝 (yì sī)` means “a trace of” or “a touch of.” This phrase softens `悲伤`, making it suitable for describing a more subtle, poetic, or melancholic feeling rather than overwhelming grief.
• Example 5:
• 别太悲伤了，生活还要继续。
• Pinyin: Bié tài bēishāng le, shēnghuó hái yào jìxù.
• English: Don't be too sad, life must go on.
• Analysis: This is a common phrase used to comfort someone who is grieving. It acknowledges the depth of their `悲伤` while gently encouraging them to look forward.
• Example 6:
• 这首歌曲的旋律带有一种深深的悲伤。
• Pinyin: Zhè shǒu gēqǔ de xuánlǜ dài yǒu yì zhǒng shēnshēn de bēishāng.
• English: The melody of this song carries a kind of deep sorrow.
• Analysis: Another example of `悲伤` used as a noun to describe the emotional quality of a piece of art.
• Example 7:
• 失去宠物是我童年最悲伤的记忆。
• Pinyin: Shīqù chǒngwù shì wǒ tóngnián zuì bēishāng de jìyì.
• English: Losing my pet is the saddest memory of my childhood.
• Analysis: `悲伤` is appropriate here because the loss of a childhood pet is a significant and deeply felt event for a child.
• Example 8:
• 战争给无数家庭带来了无尽的悲伤。
• Pinyin: Zhànzhēng gěi wúshù jiātíng dài lái le wújìn de bēishāng.
• English: War brought endless sorrow to countless families.
• Analysis: This shows the formal and serious application of `悲伤`, used to describe the large-scale suffering caused by a major tragedy like war.
• Example 9:
• 他的脸上露出了悲伤的表情。
• Pinyin: Tā de liǎn shàng lùchū le bēishāng de biǎoqíng.
• English: A sorrowful expression appeared on his face.
• Analysis: `悲伤` can be used to describe non-verbal cues like facial expressions, indicating a deep, visible sadness.
• Example 10:
• 尽管他试图微笑，但我们都能看出他内心的悲伤。
• Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn tā shìtú wēixiào, dàn wǒmen dōu néng kànchū tā nèixīn de bēishāng.
• English: Although he tried to smile, we could all see the sorrow in his heart.
• Analysis: This sentence highlights the internal, profound nature of `悲伤`, which can exist even when someone tries to hide it.

The most common mistake for learners is using `悲伤 (bēishāng)` for minor, everyday sadness. It's too strong and dramatic for small disappointments. Key Distinction: `悲伤 (bēishāng)` vs. `难过 (nánguò)`

• `悲伤 (bēishāng)`: Deep, profound sorrow. Often from a major loss (death, breakup, tragedy). More formal and literary.
  • Use when: Someone passed away, you watch a tragic film, you reflect on a painful past.
• `难过 (nánguò)`: General sadness or feeling upset. Literally “hard to get through.” It's the most common and versatile word for “sad.”
  • Use when: You failed an exam, you had an argument with a friend, you miss your family.

Incorrect Usage:

• `*我没赶上公交车，我很悲伤。*` (Wǒ méi gǎnshàng gōngjiāochē, wǒ hěn bēishāng.)
• Why it's wrong: Missing the bus is a minor annoyance, not a profound tragedy. The feeling is temporary and not deep enough to be a “grief-wound.”
• Correct version: `我没赶上公交车，我很难过。` (Wǒ méi gǎnshàng gōngjiāochē, wǒ hěn nánguò.) or `…我很不开心 (bù kāixīn)`.

• 难过 (nánguò) - The most common word for “sad” or “upset.” Less intense and more versatile than `悲伤`.
• 伤心 (shāngxīn) - A very close synonym for `悲伤`, literally “wounded heart.” It's very common in speech and is often interchangeable with `悲伤`, though perhaps slightly less formal.
• 痛苦 (tòngkǔ) - Pain, suffering, agony (can be physical or mental). Stronger than `悲伤`, focusing on the element of suffering.
• 忧郁 (yōuyù) - Melancholy or depression. Describes a longer-lasting, chronic state of sadness, and is also the clinical term for depression.
• 心碎 (xīnsuì) - Heartbroken. A vivid, metaphorical term for extreme emotional pain, often used in the context of romantic love.
• 失望 (shīwàng) - Disappointed. A specific type of sadness that comes from unfulfilled expectations.
• 高兴 (gāoxìng) - Antonym: happy, glad, pleased.
• 开心 (kāixīn) - Antonym: happy, joyful (literally “open heart”).
• 安慰 (ānwèi) - To comfort or console someone, often when they are feeling `悲伤`.
• 同情 (tóngqíng) - To sympathize; to feel pity or compassion for someone's misfortune or sadness.