心碎
xīnsuì
The English phrase heartbreak is translated into Mandarin as 心碎 (xīnsuì).
心碎 is used as a noun to describe the intense anguish
Meaning: anguish (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 心 (heart) and 碎 (broken into pieces/shattered).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that one's heart has broken, you can use the form 心碎了. Adding the particle 了 (le) after 心碎 indicates a change of state, often used to describe the moment one's heart breaks.
How do you pronounce it?
xīnsuì
Did you know?
- Chinese has a specific term 心酸 meaning 'heart sour' to describe a bittersweet or poignant feeling that is less intense than the total shatter of 心碎.
- In Mandarin, the word for heart 心 is not only the organ but also the seat of intellect and memory, making 心碎 a mental as well as emotional collapse.
- While 心碎 describes the feeling of heartbreak, Chinese speakers often use the idiom 心如死灰 to describe the stage after, meaning 'heart like dead ashes'.
Examples in context
- A: 你听说过他们分手吗？(Nǐ tīng shuō guò tāmen fēn shǒu ma?) B: 听说了，他们分手后，他整个人都崩溃了。(Tīng shuō le, tāmen fēn shǒu hòu, tā zhěng gè rén dōu bēng kuì le.)A: Have you heard about their breakup? B: Yes, after their breakup, he completely fell apart.
- A: 他最近一直很难过。(Tā zuì jìn yì zhí hěn nán guò.) B: 可能是因为他心里很伤心吧。(Kě néng shì yīn wèi tā xīn lǐ hěn shāng xīn ba.)A: He has been sad lately. B: Maybe he is heartbroken.
- 不要让心碎毁了你的生活。Búyào ràng xīnsuì huǐle nǐ de shēnghuó.Don't let heartbreak ruin your life.
- 他试图逃避心碎带来的痛苦。Tā shìtú táobì xīnsuì dàilái de tòngkǔ.He is trying to avoid the pain brought by heartbreak.
Example conversation
Haoran is comforting Yuting after a breakup.
- 浩然 Haoran雨婷，你现在感觉怎么样？Yǔtíng, nǐ xiàn zài gǎn jué zěn me yàng?Yuting, how are you feeling right now?
- 雨婷 Yuting我感到很心碎，很难接受。wǒ gǎn dào hěn xīn suì, hěn nán jiē shòu.I feel such heartbreak, it's hard to accept.
- 浩然 Haoran别太难过了，我会陪着你。bié tài nán guò le, wǒ huì péi zhe nǐ.Don't be too sad, I will stay with you.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢你，浩然。xiè xiè nǐ, Hàorán.Thank you, Haoran.
