jǔsàng: 沮丧 - Depressed, Dejected, Downcast

• Keywords: 沮丧, jǔsàng, depressed in Chinese, dejected in Chinese, downcast, dispirited, jǔsàng meaning, jǔsàng vs nanguo, Chinese emotion words, HSK 5 vocabulary, how to say sad in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn how to use 沮丧 (jǔsàng), a key Mandarin Chinese term for feeling “dejected,” “depressed,” or “downcast.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage, distinguishing it from general sadness (难过, nánguò) and clinical depression (抑郁, yìyù). Master this HSK 5 word to express a deep sense of disappointment and defeat after a setback.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jǔsàng
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be dejected, dispirited, or downcast, typically as a result of failure or disappointment.
• In a Nutshell: `沮丧` is more than just feeling sad. It's the heavy, deflated feeling you get when your efforts have failed and your hopes are dashed. Imagine studying for weeks for a crucial exam only to fail, or pouring your heart into a project that gets rejected. That sinking feeling of “it was all for nothing” is the core of `沮丧`. It's a temporary but deep state of low spirits and defeat.

• 沮 (jǔ): The left side is the water radical (氵). The right side (且) provides the sound. Pictorially, you can think of 沮 as water being blocked or stopped, leading to a feeling of stagnation and despondency. It carries a meaning of “to stop” or “to prevent.”
• 丧 (sàng): This character is more direct, meaning “to lose,” “to mourn,” or relating to a funeral. It brings a heavy sense of loss and grief.
• The combination `沮丧` (jǔsàng) paints a vivid picture: a spirit that is stopped (沮) by a profound sense of loss (丧). This fusion creates a word that perfectly describes the emotional state of being utterly dejected by failure.

In Chinese culture, there's a strong emphasis on resilience, perseverance (坚持, jiānchí), and maintaining emotional composure to avoid “losing face” (丢面子, diū miànzi). While feeling `沮丧` is a universal human emotion, expressing it openly might be reserved for close friends and family. Publicly, the expectation is often to “pull oneself together” (振作起来, zhènzuò qǐlái) quickly. A useful comparison is to the English phrase “to be bummed out.” While “bummed out” is informal and can describe minor disappointments (e.g., “I'm bummed our pizza place is closed”), `沮丧` carries significantly more weight. It's closer to “dejected” or “disheartened.” It's not a clinical term like “depression” (which is 抑郁, yìyù), but rather a deep emotional response to a specific, negative outcome. It occupies a space between everyday sadness and a medical condition, reflecting a serious blow to one's morale.

`沮丧` is a standard and widely understood term used in various contexts, from daily conversation to formal writing.

• In Conversation: A person might confide in a friend, “我感觉很沮丧” (Wǒ gǎnjué hěn jǔsàng), after a job rejection or a fight with a partner. It signals a need for comfort and encouragement.
• In Media and Literature: News reports or stories often use `沮丧` to describe the mood of a person or a group. For example, describing a sports team after a major loss: “输掉决赛后，整个团队都陷入了沮丧之中。” (After losing the final, the entire team sank into dejection.)
• As a Cause: It can also be used with `令人 (lìng rén)`, meaning “to make people feel.” For example, “这个消息真令人沮丧。” (This news is truly disheartening.)

It is always negative in connotation and is considered a fairly strong emotional word.

• Example 1:
  • 考试又没及格，我感到非常沮丧。
  • Pinyin: Kǎoshì yòu méi jígé, wǒ gǎndào fēicháng jǔsàng.
  • English: I failed the exam again, I feel extremely dejected.
  • Analysis: A classic example showing `沮丧` as a direct result of failure. `感到 (gǎndào)` is often used with emotional adjectives like this.
• Example 2:
  • 他沮丧地坐在角落里，一句话也不说。
  • Pinyin: Tā jǔsàng de zuò zài jiǎoluò lǐ, yí jù huà yě bù shuō.
  • English: He sat dejectedly in the corner, not saying a word.
  • Analysis: Here, `沮丧地 (jǔsàng de)` functions as an adverb, describing the manner in which he is sitting. This shows how the emotion affects his behavior.
• Example 3:
  • 连续的失败让他变得很沮丧。
  • Pinyin: Liánxù de shībài ràng tā biànde hěn jǔsàng.
  • English: The continuous failures made him become very dispirited.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights that `沮丧` can be a cumulative feeling, resulting from a series of setbacks.
• Example 4:
  • 这是一个令人沮丧的结果。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge lìng rén jǔsàng de jiéguǒ.
  • English: This is a disheartening result.
  • Analysis: The structure `令人 + [emotion]` (lìng rén) means “to make people feel [emotion].” It's a common way to describe something's effect on people.
• Example 5:
  • 别那么沮丧，我们还有机会。
  • Pinyin: Bié nàme jǔsàng, wǒmen hái yǒu jīhuì.
  • English: Don't be so downcast, we still have a chance.
  • Analysis: This is what you would say to comfort someone, directly addressing their state of `沮丧` and offering hope.
• Example 6:
  • 球队输了比赛，更衣室里充满了沮丧的气氛。
  • Pinyin: Qiúduì shūle bǐsài, gēngyīshì lǐ chōngmǎnle jǔsàng de qìfēn.
  • English: The team lost the game, and the locker room was filled with an atmosphere of dejection.
  • Analysis: This shows `沮丧` can be used to describe a collective mood or atmosphere, not just an individual's feeling.
• Example 7:
  • 他的脸上带着一丝沮丧的表情。
  • Pinyin: Tā de liǎn shàng dàizhe yì sī jǔsàng de biǎoqíng.
  • English: His face wore a trace of a dejected expression.
  • Analysis: `沮丧` is often used to modify nouns like `表情 (biǎoqíng)` (expression) or `神情 (shénqíng)` (look).
• Example 8:
  • 尽管项目失败了，但他没有表现出任何沮丧。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn xiàngmù shībàile, dàn tā méiyǒu biǎoxiàn chū rènhé jǔsàng.
  • English: Although the project failed, he didn't show any dejection.
  • Analysis: This highlights the cultural value of emotional fortitude. He may feel `沮丧`, but he doesn't `表现 (biǎoxiàn)` (show) it.
• Example 9:
  • 找不到工作的现实让他沮丧万分。
  • Pinyin: Zhǎobudào gōngzuò de xiànshí ràng tā jǔsàng wànfēn.
  • English: The reality of not being able to find a job made him utterly dejected.
  • Analysis: `万分 (wànfēn)` means “extremely” or “ten thousand parts,” and is a strong adverb used in written or formal contexts to intensify the emotion.
• Example 10:
  • 你不能因为一次小小的挫折就这么沮丧。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng yīnwèi yí cì xiǎoxiǎo de cuòzhé jiù zhème jǔsàng.
  • English: You can't be this dejected just because of one small setback.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides advice, contrasting a “small setback” (小小的挫折) with the strong emotional reaction of `沮丧`.

• `沮丧 (jǔsàng)` vs. `难过 (nánguò)`: This is the most common point of confusion.
  • `难过 (nánguò)` is “sad.” It's a general-purpose word for emotional pain. You feel `难过` when you miss home or a friend moves away.
  • `沮丧 (jǔsàng)` is “dejected.” It's specifically linked to disappointment, failure, and a loss of hope. You feel `难过` watching a sad movie; you feel `沮丧` after your business proposal is rejected.
• `沮丧 (jǔsàng)` vs. `失望 (shīwàng)`:
  • `失望 (shīwàng)` means “disappointed.” It is the *cause*.
  • `沮丧 (jǔsàng)` is the resulting emotional *state*.
  • Correct sequence: 我对考试成绩很失望 (I'm very disappointed with the test results), 所以我感到很沮丧 (so I feel very dejected).
• `沮丧 (jǔsàng)` is NOT Clinical Depression:
  • The medical term for depression is `抑郁 (yìyù)` or `抑郁症 (yìyùzhèng)`. `沮丧` describes a temporary emotional state, even if it's a deep one. `抑郁` describes a chronic mental health condition.
  • Incorrect: 他有~沮丧~症。 (Tā yǒu jǔsàng zhèng.)
  • Correct: 他有抑郁症。 (Tā yǒu yìyùzhèng.) - He has depression.

• 难过 (nánguò) - Sad, upset. A much broader and more common term for general unhappiness.
• 失望 (shīwàng) - Disappointed. The feeling of one's hopes not being met; often the direct cause of `沮丧`.
• 伤心 (shāngxīn) - Heartbroken, grieved. Implies a deeper emotional hurt, often related to relationships.
• 灰心 (huīxīn) - Disheartened, to lose heart. Very close to `沮丧`, focusing on the loss of confidence.
• 消沉 (xiāochén) - Low-spirited, downhearted. Often implies a longer-lasting state of low energy and morale than `沮丧`.
• 气馁 (qìněi) - Discouraged, daunted. Specifically about losing the will or courage to continue.
• 绝望 (juéwàng) - To despair; hopeless. A much stronger term than `沮丧`, implying a total loss of hope.
• 郁闷 (yùmèn) - Gloomy, pent-up. A feeling of being stifled, moody, and unhappy, often for no single clear reason.
• 振作 (zhènzuò) - To pull oneself together, to rally one's spirits. A direct antonym and the common remedy for feeling `沮丧`.