垂头丧气
垂头丧气 (chuí tóu sàng qì) literally means “drooping head, lost spirit” and expresses “be dejected and dispirited”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: chui tou sang qi, chui tou sang qi,垂头丧气 meaning, 垂头丧气 in english
Be dejected and dispirited
Pronunciation: chuí tóu sàng qì
Literal meaning: Drooping head, lost spirit
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes a drooping (垂) head (头) and lost (丧) spirit (气). It depicts the body language of defeat and discouragement - the slumped posture of someone who has given up hope. The phrase captures how disappointment manifests physically. Modern usage describes dejection, the visible loss of energy and hope following failure or bad news.
Examples
English: "The losing team walked off the field dejected and dispirited."
Chinese: 输球的队伍垂头丧气地走下球场。
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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, lost spirit” and is used to express “Be dejected and dispirited”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 垂头丧气 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving be dejected and dispirited.
What is the pinyin for 垂头丧气?
The pinyin pronunciation for 垂头丧气 is “chuí tóu sàng qì”.