垂头丧气
垂头丧气 (chuí tóu sàng qì) literally means “drooping head and dejected spirit” and expresses “dejected; dispirited”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: chui tou sang qi, chui tou sang qi,垂头丧气 meaning, 垂头丧气 in english
Dejected; dispirited
Pronunciation: chuí tóu sàng qì Literal meaning: Drooping head and dejected spirit
Origin & Usage
Head (头) hanging (垂) and spirit (气) gone out (丧). 气 is breath and vitality at once, so the second half names something visible — a person who has deflated — rather than a mood reported from the inside. That is why the phrase works at a distance: it is what you can see across a room about somebody who has just had bad news. A team after a defeat, a candidate after an interview, a child after a scolding — and it carries a little sympathy rather than contempt.
Examples
English: "After losing the championship, the team left the field dejected."
Chinese: 输掉冠军赛后，队员们垂头丧气地离开了球场。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
名垂青史
míng chuí qīng shǐ
Eternal legacy
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喜气洋洋
xǐ qì yáng yáng
Radiating happiness
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秋高气爽
qiū gāo qì shuǎng
Refreshing and pleasant
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回头是岸
huí tóu shì àn
Repent and be saved
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抛头露面
pāo tóu lù miàn
Public exposure
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一鼓作气
yī gǔ zuò qì
Complete in one effort
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一气呵成
yī qì hē chéng
Finished without a break in it
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朝气蓬勃
zhāo qì péng bó
Vibrant youthful energy and enthusiasm
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 垂头丧气 mean in English?
垂头丧气 (chuí tóu sàng qì) literally translates to “Drooping head and dejected spirit” and is used to express “Dejected; dispirited”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 垂头丧气 used?
Situation: After losing the championship, the team left the field dejected.
What is the pinyin for 垂头丧气?
The pinyin pronunciation for 垂头丧气 is “chuí tóu sàng qì”.