Meaning
沉痛 describes a deep, heavy emotional pain or grief, typically associated with serious loss, tragedy, or profound regret. The character 沉 (to sink) combines with 痛 (pain) to convey a weight of sorrow that feels like it's sinking into one's heart. It's commonly used in formal contexts or solemn occasions to express sincere, profound sadness.
Usage
This word appears frequently in formal written Chinese, eulogies, official statements, and commemorations. It's more literary and formal than everyday expressions of sadness like 难过 or 伤心. Often used to describe mourning for deceased persons, expressing regret over national tragedies, or conveying deep remorse. Common in the pattern 沉痛哀悼 (to deeply mourn) or 深感沉痛 (to feel profound grief).
Examples
- 01我们对这次事故中遇难者的家属表示沉痛的哀悼。.We express our profound condolences to the families of those who died in this accident.
- 02他以沉痛的心情回顾了那段历史。.He looked back on that period of history with deep sorrow.
Characters
Common collocations
- 沉痛哀悼to deeply mourn
- 深感沉痛to feel profound grief
- 沉痛的教训painful lesson
- 心情沉痛with a heavy heart
Antonyms
Origin
The compound combines 沉 (to sink, suggesting heaviness and depth) with 痛 (pain), creating an image of pain that weighs heavily on one's heart or spirit, as if sinking down.