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
This idiom describes the physical posture of dejection - head (头) drooping (垂) and spirit (气) lost (丧). The phrase captures how emotional states manifest in body language, reflecting the traditional Chinese understanding of mind-body unity. It appears in Tang Dynasty literature describing defeated warriors and disappointed scholars. The vivid physical imagery makes the emotional state instantly recognizable. Modern usage describes anyone in a state of discouragement, disappointment, or demoralization after failure or bad news.
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
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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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”.