4 · 40 words

Feelings, more precisely

Gratitude, regret, loneliness, embarrassment and the shades between them.

By this level the basic feelings are in place, and what is missing is precision. Several words here have no exact English match: 委屈(wěiqu) is the hurt of being treated unfairly with no way to answer back, 牵挂(qiānguà) the steady worry for someone far away. And 惭愧(cánkuì) is the quiet shame of having fallen short, much milder than disgrace.

The words

Verb (13)

感激(gǎnjī)to be grateful; gratefulVerb4

你(nǐ)帮(bāng)了(le)我(wǒ)这么(zhème)多(duō)，我(wǒ)真(zhēn)不(bù)知道(zhīdao)怎么(zěnme)感激(gǎnjī)你(nǐ)。You’ve helped me so much — I really don’t know how to thank you.

Deeper than 感谢(gǎnxiè), which is the word for saying thank you.

忧虑(yōulǜ)to be worried; anxietyVerb4

很(hěn)多(duō)父母(fùmǔ)为(wèi)孩子(háizi)的(de)将来(jiānglái)忧虑(yōulǜ)。Many parents worry about their children’s future.

厌倦(yànjuàn)to be tired of, to be weary ofVerb4

他(tā)厌倦(yànjuàn)了(le)每天(měitiān)一样(yíyàng)的(de)生活(shēnghuó)，想(xiǎng)换(huàn)个(ge)工作(gōngzuò)。He has grown tired of the same routine every day and wants a change of job.

敬佩(jìngpèi)to admire, to hold in high regardVerb4

她(tā)一边(yìbiān)工作(gōngzuò)一边(yìbiān)读完(dúwán)了(le)博士(bóshì)，大家(dàjiā)都(dōu)很(hěn)敬佩(jìngpèi)她(tā)。She completed her doctorate while working, and everyone admires her for it.

绝望(juéwàng)to despair; desperateVerb4

找(zhǎo)了(le)三(sān)天(tiān)都(dōu)没(méi)找到(zhǎodào)，他(tā)几乎(jīhū)绝望(juéwàng)了(le)。After three days of searching without finding it, he had almost given up hope.

感恩(gǎn'ēn)to be thankfulVerb4

她(tā)一直(yìzhí)很(hěn)感恩(gǎn'ēn)，从来(cónglái)不(bú)忘(wàng)帮(bāng)过(guo)她(tā)的(de)人(rén)。She has always been grateful and never forgets the people who helped her.

盼望(pànwàng)to long forVerb4

孩子们(háizimen)天天(tiāntiān)盼望(pànwàng)着(zhe)过年(guònián)。The children count the days until New Year.

犹豫(yóuyù)to hesitateVerb4

他(tā)犹豫(yóuyù)了(le)很(hěn)久(jiǔ)，最后(zuìhòu)还是(háishi)没(méi)去(qù)。He hesitated for a long time and in the end didn’t go.

信任(xìnrèn)to trust; trustVerb4

他(tā)骗(piàn)过(guo)我(wǒ)一(yí)次(cì)，我(wǒ)再(zài)也(yě)不(bú)信任(xìnrèn)他(tā)了(le)。He lied to me once, and I have never trusted him since.

牵挂(qiānguà)to worry about (someone far away)Verb4

儿子(érzi)在(zài)外地(wàidì)上(shàng)大学(dàxué)，父母(fùmǔ)总是(zǒngshì)牵挂(qiānguà)着(zhe)他(tā)。Their son is at university far away, and his parents are always thinking of him.

着迷(zháomí)to be fascinatedVerb4

儿子(érzi)最近(zuìjìn)对(duì)恐龙(kǒnglóng)特别(tèbié)着迷(zháomí)。My son has been fascinated by dinosaurs lately.

着(zháo) is zháo here, as in 着急(zháojí).

思念(sīniàn)to miss, to long forVerb4

在(zài)国外(guówài)的(de)这些(zhèxiē)年(nián)，他(tā)一直(yìzhí)很(hěn)思念(sīniàn)家乡(jiāxiāng)。All his years abroad, he has missed his home town deeply.

A deeper, more written word for 想(xiǎng) in the sense of missing someone or somewhere.

反感(fǎngǎn)to dislike, to be put off byVerb4

很(hěn)多(duō)人(rén)反感(fǎngǎn)别人(biérén)问(wèn)自己(zìjǐ)的(de)工资(gōngzī)。Many people dislike being asked about their salary.

This list belongs to People and feelings — eleven lists and 442 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.