noun / adjective HSK 4
Traditional 煩惱
worry · vexation · trouble · annoyance · to be worried
Meaning
烦恼 refers to mental distress, worries, or troubles that cause anxiety or irritation. It encompasses both the state of being troubled and the specific problems causing that distress. The term carries a sense of persistent or nagging concerns rather than acute fear.
Usage
Commonly used in everyday conversation to describe personal worries, life troubles, or frustrations. Can function as a noun (有很多烦恼 'have many worries') or as an adjective/verb (感到烦恼 'feel troubled'). Often paired with verbs like 有 (to have), 解决 (to resolve), or 带来 (to bring).
Examples
- 01每个人都有自己的烦恼。.Everyone has their own worries.
- 02别为这些小事烦恼了。.Don't worry about these small matters.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个烦恼
- 种各种烦恼
Common collocations
- 没有烦恼to have no worries
- 解决烦恼to resolve troubles
- 烦恼的事troublesome matters
- 摆脱烦恼to get rid of worries
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to emotional distress. 烦 originally depicted fire (火) beneath a structure, suggesting agitation, while 恼 combines heart (忄) with a phonetic component, indicating emotional turmoil.