Word

惨 (cǎn) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 惨

形 xíng adjective

miserable; tragic

这场事故太惨了。

zhè chǎng shì gù tài cǎn le

This accident was too tragic.

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Word breakdown

惨 cǎn — miserable; tragic

1 悲惨 bēi cǎn — tragic HSK 7
- 悲 sad, sorrowful (emotional aspect of suffering)
- 惨 miserable, wretched (intensifying the severity)
Example

她讲述了一个悲惨的故事。

tā jiǎng shù le yí gè bēi cǎn de gù shi

She told a tragic story.
2 惨痛 cǎn tòng — painful, bitter HSK 7
- 惨 miserable, tragic, severe
- 痛 painful, aching, suffering
Example

这是一个惨痛的教训。

zhè shì yí gè cǎn tòng de jiào xun

This is a bitter lesson.
3 惨白 cǎn bái — deathly pale HSK 7
- 惨 intensifies the paleness to a tragic, extreme, or disturbing degree
- 白 provides the base meaning of white or pale color
Example

她听到噩耗后脸色变得惨白。

tā tīng dào è hào hòu liǎn sè biàn de cǎn bái

Her face turned deathly pale after hearing the bad news.
4 惨重 cǎn zhòng — heavy, grievous, disastrous HSK 7
- 惨 tragic, disastrous, miserable
- 重 heavy, serious, severe
Example

战争给这个国家带来了惨重的损失。

zhàn zhēng gěi zhè ge guó jiā dài lái le cǎn zhòng de sǔn shī

The war brought disastrous losses to this country.

Structure & writing

1 惨 cǎn — cruel, vicious

惨 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 忄 xīn — heart/mind radical (vertical form)

忄 is a component in 55 characters

HSK 1

忙 máng busy, occupied (opposite of '闲')

HSK 2

快 kuài fast; quick (opposite of 慢) 情 qíng emotion; feeling; psychological state of love, hatred, joy, fear, etc. aroused by external things 慢 màn slow; taking a long time (opposite of 快) 懂 dǒng to know; to understand

HSK 3

怕 pà to fear; to be afraid of 怪 guài strange, unusual 惯 guàn to be accustomed to; to be used to

HSK 4

忆 yì to recall; to remember 怀 huái chest; bosom 性 xìng character; temperament; disposition 恼 nǎo to anger; to make angry 悔 huǐ to regret something one has done or said

Show more HSK 4 characters (+4)

惊 jīng （of mules, horses, etc.）to bolt out of control in fright 惜 xī to cherish and value; not to discard carelessly 愉 yú happy, joyful 懒 lǎn lazy, disinclined to work (opposite of 勤)

HSK 5

恢 huī (lit.) vast; broad 悄 qiāo quiet, silent; (of actions) done without others knowing 慎 shèn careful, cautious 憾 hàn to feel regret; to be dissatisfied or disappointed

HSK 6

忧 yōu sad; melancholy 怜 lián to pity, to sympathize 恨 hèn to hate; to resent 恰 qià exactly, just 惧 jù to fear; to dread

Show more HSK 6 characters (+1)

愤 fèn to feel indignant; to be angry

HSK 7

怖 bù to fear; to be afraid 怡 yí (lit.) joyful; cheerful 怯 qiè timid; afraid; lacking courage 恍 huǎng suddenly; all at once; in a flash 恒 héng lasting; permanently unchanged

Show more HSK 7 characters (+23)

恤 xù (lit.) to worry; to be concerned 悟 wù to understand; to comprehend; to awaken 悦 yuè happy, joyful 悴 cuì (lit.) sorrowful; grieved 悼 dào to mourn, to grieve for the deceased 惋 wǎn to feel sympathy or regret for another's misfortune 惕 tì to be cautious and vigilant 惦 diàn to keep thinking about; to worry about 惨 cǎn cruel, vicious 惬 qiè contented; pleased 惭 cán ashamed; feeling shame 惮 dàn (lit.) to fear; to dread 惰 duò lazy, sluggish; opposite of 勤愣 lèng to be dazed; to stare blankly 愧 kuì ashamed; feeling shame for one's faults or wrongdoings 慌 huāng flustered, hurried, frantic 慑 shè (lit.) to fear; to frighten 慨 kǎi indignant; filled with righteous anger 慷 kāng see 慷慨: ①full of righteous spirit, impassioned; ②generous, unsparing 憔 qiáo haggard and sallow (see 憔悴) 憧 chōng flickering or moving back and forth indecisively (see "憧憧") 憬 jǐng (lit.) to awaken; to become aware 懈 xiè to relax; to slacken in will or effort

1.2 参 cān — to join; to participate (in an activity)

参 is a component in 3 characters

HSK 7

惨 cǎn cruel, vicious 掺 chān to mix one thing into another; to blend 渗 shèn to seep; to permeate slowly

Stroke order