adjective / noun HSK 5
Traditional
fèn
indignant · resentful · anger · fury

Meaning

expresses a strong feeling of anger or indignation, often arising from perceived injustice or unfair treatment. It conveys a sense of righteous anger or deep resentment. The character is commonly used in literary and formal contexts, though it appears in everyday compound words.

Usage

rarely stands alone in modern Mandarin and typically appears in compound words like 怒 (anger), 慨 (indignation), or 义 (righteous indignation). It carries a stronger, more intense connotation than simple anger, suggesting moral outrage or deeply felt resentment. More common in written language than casual speech.

Examples

  1. 01
    他听到这个不公平的决定后非常慨。
    tīng dào zhège gōngpíng de juédìng hòu fēicháng fèn kǎi.
    He was very indignant after hearing this unfair decision.
  2. 02
    民众对腐败官员的行为充满了义
    Mínzhòng duì fǔbài guānyuán de xíngwéi chōngmǎn le fèn.
    The public was filled with righteous indignation at the corrupt officials' behavior.

Common collocations

  • 怒不已
    fèn
    extremely angry
  • 填膺
    fèn tián yīng
    filled with righteous indignation
  • fèn
    furious, enraged

Antonyms

Origin

The traditional form combines 心 (heart) with 賁 (a phonetic component), indicating an emotional state centered in the heart. The simplified form uses 分 as the phonetic element.

Related