消沉 xiāochén to sink into despondency
to sink into despondency; (of morale, willpower etc) to diminish; to plummet
How to remember 消沉: 消 vanish + 沉 to sink = to sink into despondency.
Characters
How it is used
- Describes being dejected, low in spirits - 意志消沉 (yìzhì xiāochén) low morale, downhearted.
- About prolonged low mood and lost drive after a setback, not a passing sadness.
- Contrast 沮丧 (jǔsàng, discouraged/frustrated, more acute); 消沉 is a lingering, sapped-of-spirit state.
Example sentences
- 我一整天都觉得很消沉。 Wǒ yīzhěngtiān dōu juéde hěn xiāochén.I was feeling blue all day.