Chinese – more specifically, Mandarin Chinese – is by far one of the most complex languages in the world. With 1.3 billion native speakers and millions of others learning the language already, it is inevitable that there will be even more people all around the world interested in Chinese culture and the country’s most spoken language.
If you are learning Mandarin Chinese, then you will eventually need to learn how to express your emotions in this beautiful language. Read on to find out how you can do this like a native speaker.
What Are The Differences Between Chinese And Western Cultures?
Before you start learning Mandarin Chinese words and phrases to express emotion, you should first understand the differences between Chinese and Western cultures. Culture is directly related to language which is why you need to understand what Chinese culture is like to be able to express your thoughts as a native speaker does. Here are some things to consider about Chinese culture:
- Compared to Western culture which values individualism, Chinese culture like many other Eastern cultures prioritizes collectivism. Thus, the Chinese tend to be more subtle when expressing their feelings.
- In Chinese culture, it is common to suppress feelings or express them in a non-verbal way. For example, instead of saying, “I love you,” it is common to express love by holding hands, hugging, cuddling, etc. Facial expressions and intonation while speaking are also indicators of emotions while communicating.
- The Chinese are very careful about sharing their feelings. With friends, it is normal to express both positive and negative emotions. However, you might want to refrain from sharing your feelings with acquaintances, co-workers, and elders.
Basic Chinese Vocabulary For Expressing Emotions
Alex Norman, an expert in language learning from the writing services reviews site Best Writers Online, says, “When you are learning a language, you need to first build a good foundation before you move on to more advanced aspects of the language. That’s why you need to start from basic vocabulary before you can learn complicated words.”
Hence, here are some common words and phrases you can use to express basic emotions and feelings in Mandarin Chinese:
– happy 开心 (kāi xīn)
– excited 兴奋 (xīng fèn)
– sad 伤心 (shāng xīn)
– angry 生气 (shēng qì)
– hungry 饿 (è)
– thirsty 渴 (kě)
– hot 热 (rè)
– cold 冷 (lěng)
– bored 无聊 (wú liáo)
– tired 累 (lèi)
– sleepy 困 (kùn)
– furious 气愤 (qì fèn)
– worried 忧虑 (yōu lǜ)
– jealous 嫉妒 (jí dù)
– nervous 紧张 (jǐn zhāng)
– looking forward to 期待 (qí dài)
– embarrassed 尴尬 (gān gà)
– disappointed 失望 (shī wàng)
– confused 困惑 (kùn huò)
– surprised 惊讶(jīng yà)
– depressed 郁闷 (yù mèn)
– afraid 害怕 (hài pà)
– busy 忙 (máng)
– comfortable 舒服 (shū fú)
– sick/ill 生病 (shēng bìng)
Chinese Phrases To Help You Express Emotions
Now that you know some basic words, you can use them in simple sentences to express your feelings or emotions. There are three most common ways to express your emotions: “I’m a little…,” “I’m…,” and “I’m too/so…” All three are useful and can be used in different situations. Here’s what they sound like (use the word for the feeling or emotion you want to express in the place of “…”):
- I’m a little… – 我有一点… (wǒ yǒu yī diǎn)
- I’m … – 我很… (wǒ hěn)
- I’m too/so… – 我太 … 了 (wǒ tài… le)
Examples of Sentences to Express Emotions
Using the words and phrases listed above, you can already start expressing emotions in Mandarin Chinese. Here are some examples to help you get started:
- I’m a little tired – 我有一点累 (wǒ yǒu yī diǎn lèi)
- I’m a little hungry – 我有一点饿 (wǒ yǒu yī diǎn è)
- I’m a little busy – 我有一点忙 (wǒ yǒu yī diǎn máng)
- I’m happy – 我很高兴 (wǒ hěn gāo xìng)
- I’m sad – 我很伤心 (wǒ hěn shāng xīn)
- I’m disappointed – 我很失望 (wǒ hěn shī wàng)
- I’m too/so confused – 我太困惑了 (wǒ tài kùn huò le)
- I’m too/so angry – 我太生气了 (wǒ tài shēng qì le)
- I’m too/so bored – 我太无聊了 (wǒ tài wú liáo le)
Don’t try to learn everything at once to avoid mixing up words. Take one step at a time and practice using different words and phrases to master them in the long run. Practice making sentences to help you master these words and phrases faster.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, while Mandarin Chinese is a difficult language, learning it will be a pleasure if you are motivated and interested in Chinese culture. Use the words and phrases in this article to help you express your emotions in this rich and beautiful language.
