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垂头丧气

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: chuí tóu sàng qì
  • English Translation: Hanging one's head in dejection (crestfallen)
  • Idiom Composition: 「垂」（To hang down or droop）＋「头」（Head）＋「丧」（To lose or be deprived of）＋「气」（Spirit, morale, or energy）
  • Meaning: To be in low spirits and hang one's head due to failure or frustration. It describes a state where disappointment or discouragement is clearly visible in one's posture and expression.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「垂头丧气」 contains the following nuances:

  • Visual Imagery: As the literal meaning of 垂头 (chuí tóu) suggests, this idiom emphasizes the physical posture of drooping one's head, making the internal disappointment visible to others.
  • Specific Triggers: It is usually triggered by a specific external event, such as losing a game, failing an exam, or receiving a reprimand, rather than a general mood.
  • Temporary State: It generally refers to a temporary reaction to a setback rather than a permanent personality trait or chronic depression.

3. Usage

「垂头丧气」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Failure or Defeat: Commonly used to describe the appearance of losers immediately after a sports match, competition, or failed endeavor.
    • Example:「得知决赛失利的消息后，队员们个个垂头丧气，一言不发。」
      （After hearing the news of their defeat in the finals, the team members were all crestfallen and didn't say a word.）
  • Criticism or Rejection: Describes the state of being disheartened after being scolded by a superior or having a proposal rejected.
    • Example:「被老板狠狠批评了一顿，他垂头丧气地回到了座位上。」
      （After being harshly criticized by his boss, he returned to his seat in low spirits.）
  • Encouragement: Often used in negative commands (e.g., 'don't be so...') to encourage someone who is feeling down.
    • Example:「一次失败不算什么，别垂头丧气的，下次再努力！」
      （A single failure is no big deal; don't be so dejected, just try harder next time!）

Additional Examples:

  1. 看到考试成绩不及格，孩子垂头丧气地低下了头。
    （Seeing that he failed the exam, the child lowered his head, looking utterly discouraged.）
  2. 虽然遇到了困难，但我们不能垂头丧气，要积极寻找解决办法。
    （Even though we encountered difficulties, we shouldn't be dejected; we should actively look for a solution.）
  3. 他并没有因为被拒绝而垂头丧气，反而更加斗志昂扬。
    （He wasn't disheartened by the rejection; instead, he became even more determined.）
  4. 看着满地的碎玻璃，他垂头丧气地叹了口气。
    （Looking at the broken glass scattered all over the floor, he let out a dejected sigh.）
  5. 不要整天垂头丧气的，振作起来！
    （Don't be downcast all day long; pull yourself together!）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • The idiom originates from the Tang Dynasty writer Han Yu (韩愈) in his work 'Sending Away the God of Poverty' (送穷文), where he describes a master hanging his head in dejection after failing to drive away poverty.
  • Chinese culture has many idioms linking physical posture to mental states. While 垂头丧气 (chuí tóu sàng qì) represents the 'negative' posture of defeat, it is often contrasted with 昂首挺胸 (áng shǒu tǐng xiōng), which means 'holding one's head high and puffing out the chest' to show confidence.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 垂头丧气 (chuí tóu sàng qì) describes someone who is deeply discouraged, typically following a specific setback like a failure or a scolding. It is unique because it emphasizes the physical act of hanging one's head (垂头) alongside the psychological loss of spirit (丧气). It is widely used in both formal writing and daily conversation, often appearing in contexts where someone needs encouragement to 'cheer up' after a disappointment.

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