nánshòu: 难受 - Uncomfortable, Hard to Bear, Sad

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 难受 (nánshòu), one of the most essential Chinese words for expressing negative feelings. This page explains how 难受 covers everything from physical discomfort, like feeling sick or having a stomachache, to deep emotional pain, like sadness or grief. Discover its cultural nuances, see practical example sentences, and understand how to use it correctly to describe when you're feeling unwell or heartbroken in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): nánshòu
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To feel physically unwell or emotionally pained and sad.
• In a Nutshell: 难受 (nánshòu) is your go-to word for expressing a general state of “feeling bad.” It's a broad term that covers both the physical misery of being sick (a headache, nausea, the flu) and the emotional distress of being sad, worried, or heartbroken. Think of it as the direct opposite of 舒服 (shūfu), which means “comfortable” or “feeling well.”

• 难 (nán): This character means “difficult,” “hard,” or “problematic.”
• 受 (shòu): This character means “to receive,” “to accept,” or “to bear/endure.”

When combined, 难受 (nánshòu) literally translates to “difficult to bear” or “hard to endure.” This brilliantly captures the core meaning: a state of being that is unpleasant and hard to go through, whether the source is a virus or a sad event.

In Chinese culture, the directness with which one expresses discomfort can depend on the relationship and context. However, 难受 is a very common and accepted way to communicate suffering. It's not considered overly dramatic; it's a straightforward statement of a negative feeling. A key cultural distinction lies in comparing 难受 to the English phrase “I feel bad.” In English, “I feel bad” can often imply guilt (e.g., “I feel bad for breaking your vase”). 难受 does not carry this meaning of guilt. It is focused purely on the internal experience of physical or emotional suffering. To express guilt, one would use words like 内疚 (nèijiù) or 不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi). Furthermore, while Western culture might quickly differentiate between “I'm sad” and “I'm sick,” 难受 elegantly bridges the two. This reflects a holistic view where emotional distress and physical discomfort are not always seen as separate phenomena. A profound emotional shock can literally make a person feel physically 难受.

难受 is an everyday word used across all contexts, from casual conversation to social media posts.

• Expressing Physical Illness: This is its most frequent usage. You can use it for almost any physical ailment.
  • `我感冒了，身体很难受。` (Wǒ gǎnmào le, shēntǐ hěn nánshòu.) - I have a cold, my body feels awful.
  • `喝多了，第二天头疼，胃也难受。` (Hē duō le, dì'èr tiān tóuténg, wèi yě nánshòu.) - I drank too much, the next day my head hurt and my stomach was uncomfortable.
• Expressing Emotional Pain: It's also extremely common for expressing sadness, grief, or worry.
  • `他没考上大学，心里很难受。` (Tā méi kǎoshàng dàxué, xīnli hěn nánshòu.) - He didn't get into university, he feels very sad.
  • `跟女朋友分手后，他难受了好几个星期。` (Gēn nǚpéngyou fēnshǒu hòu, tā nánshòu le hǎo jǐ ge xīngqī.) - After breaking up with his girlfriend, he was miserable for several weeks.
• Describing an Unpleasant Environment: It can be used to describe how an external factor makes you feel physically uncomfortable.
  • `这个房间太闷了，让我很难受。` (Zhège fángjiān tài mēn le, ràng wǒ hěn nánshòu.) - This room is too stuffy, it's making me feel uncomfortable.

• Example 1:
  • 我今天肚子很难受，不想吃饭。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān dùzi hěn nánshòu, bù xiǎng chīfàn.
  • English: My stomach feels really uncomfortable today, I don't want to eat.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using 难受 for physical discomfort. It's a general complaint, perfect for when you feel sick to your stomach.
• Example 2:
  • 听到这个坏消息，我心里特别难受。
  • Pinyin: Tīngdào zhège huài xiāoxi, wǒ xīnli tèbié nánshòu.
  • English: Hearing this bad news made me feel extremely sad.
  • Analysis: Here, 难受 is purely emotional. The word `心里 (xīnli)`, meaning “in the heart/mind,” clarifies that the source of suffering is emotional, not physical.
• Example 3:
  • 你别哭了，你哭得我也很难受。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bié kū le, nǐ kū de wǒ yě hěn nánshòu.
  • English: Please don't cry, your crying is making me sad too.
  • Analysis: This shows how 难受 can be used to express empathy. Someone else's sadness is causing you to feel emotionally pained as well.
• Example 4:
  • 昨天晚上没睡好，我现在难受死了。
  • Pinyin: Zuótiān wǎnshang méi shuì hǎo, wǒ xiànzài nánshòu sǐ le.
  • English: I didn't sleep well last night, I feel terrible now.
  • Analysis: The structure `[adjective] + 死了 (sǐ le)` is a very common way to add emphasis, meaning “extremely” or “to death.” `难受死了` means “I feel absolutely awful.”
• Example 5:
  • 他找不到工作，又没钱，肯定很难受。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhǎo bu dào gōngzuò, yòu méi qián, kěndìng hěn nánshòu.
  • English: He can't find a job and has no money, he must be having a very hard time.
  • Analysis: This example uses 难受 to describe a difficult life situation, which encompasses both emotional stress and potential physical hardship.
• Example 6:
  • 坐了十几个小时的飞机，我的身体很难受。
  • Pinyin: Zuò le shí jǐ ge xiǎoshí de fēijī, wǒ de shēntǐ hěn nánshòu.
  • English: After sitting on a plane for over ten hours, my body feels very uncomfortable.
  • Analysis: This describes the physical discomfort from a long, tiring activity. It's a more general feeling than a specific pain like `头疼 (tóuténg)` (headache).
• Example 7:
  • 这部电影太感人了，看得我心里难受。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng tài gǎnrén le, kàn de wǒ xīnli nánshòu.
  • English: This movie is so moving, watching it made me feel sad.
  • Analysis: 难受 here describes the bittersweet or sorrowful feeling you get from a powerful work of art.
• Example 8:
  • 你脸色不好，是不是哪里难受？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ liǎnsè bù hǎo, shì bu shì nǎlǐ nánshòu?
  • English: You look pale, are you feeling unwell somewhere?
  • Analysis: A common and caring question to ask someone who looks sick. `哪里 (nǎlǐ)` means “where,” so you're asking “Where does it feel bad?”
• Example 9:
  • 最难受的不是失败，而是没人理解你。
  • Pinyin: Zuì nánshòu de búshì shībài, érshì méi rén lǐjiě nǐ.
  • English: The hardest thing to bear isn't failure, but rather that no one understands you.
  • Analysis: This shows the abstract, philosophical use of 难受. It's used to describe a deep, existential form of suffering.
• Example 10:
  • 我不想让他难受，所以没告诉他真相。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù xiǎng ràng tā nánshòu, suǒyǐ méi gàosu tā zhēnxiàng.
  • English: I don't want to make him feel bad, so I didn't tell him the truth.
  • Analysis: The structure `让 (ràng) + someone + 难受` means “to make someone feel bad/sad.” This is a very common pattern.

• `难受` vs. `不舒服 (bù shūfu)`: These are often interchangeable for physical ailments, but 难受 implies a stronger degree of discomfort. If you have a slight headache, you might say `我有点不舒服` (I feel a little unwell). If you have a migraine or the flu, 难受 is more appropriate.
• `难受` vs. `难过 (nánguò)`: These are very close in meaning for emotional sadness. `难过` (literally “hard to pass”) is used only for emotional pain, not physical. So, if you're sad about a breakup, you can say you are `难受` or `难过`. If you have a stomachache, you can only say you are `难受`.
• `难受` is not “Guilty”: This is the most common mistake for English speakers. Do not use 难受 to express guilt.
  • `Incorrect:` 对不起，我迟到了，我很难受。 (I'm sorry I'm late, I feel bad.)
  • `Correct:` 对不起，我迟到了，我很不好意思。 (Wǒ hěn bù hǎoyìsi.)
  • Analysis: The incorrect sentence sounds like you are feeling physically sick or emotionally sad because you were late, which is strange. The correct sentence uses 不好意思 to express embarrassment or a light sense of apology, which is appropriate here.

• 舒服 (shūfu) - The direct antonym of 难受. It means “comfortable” or “feeling well.”
• 痛苦 (tòngkǔ) - A much stronger word for “pain,” “agony,” or “suffering.” It's more formal and describes a very deep level of pain.
• 伤心 (shāngxīn) - Specifically means “sad,” “grieved,” or “heartbroken.” It's a type of emotional 难受.
• 难过 (nánguò) - A very close synonym for emotional sadness. It is not used for physical discomfort.
• 不舒服 (bù shūfu) - “Uncomfortable” or “unwell.” Often a milder alternative to 难受 for physical issues.
• 生病 (shēngbìng) - A verb meaning “to get sick.” 生病 is the cause, and 难受 is the resulting feeling.
• 疼 (téng) / 痛 (tòng) - These words mean “pain” or “ache.” They are more specific. You can say: `我头疼，所以很难受。` (My head hurts, so I feel awful.)
• 郁闷 (yùmèn) - Describes a specific kind of emotional 难受: feeling “gloomy,” “depressed,” or “melancholy,” often due to frustration or boredom.