垂头丧气

Pronúncia: chuí tóu sàng qì Significado literal: Drooping head and dejected spirit

Origem e Uso

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.

Exemplos

Inglês: "After losing the championship, the team left the field dejected."

Chinês: 输掉冠军赛后，队员们垂头丧气地离开了球场。