Meaning
沮 is a literary character primarily used in compounds to express discouragement or dampening of spirits. It rarely appears alone in modern Mandarin but is essential in the common word 沮丧 (jǔsàng, dejected). The character originally referred to water being blocked or hindered, which evolved metaphorically to mean emotional hindrance or discouragement.
Usage
沮 is almost exclusively used in written or formal contexts, most commonly in the compound 沮丧. Native speakers rarely use this character independently in spoken conversation. It appears in literary texts and formal writing to convey emotional defeat or the act of dampening someone's enthusiasm.
Examples
- 01他考试失败后感到十分沮丧。.He felt very dejected after failing the exam.
- 02别让这次挫折沮丧了你的信心。.Don't let this setback dampen your confidence.
Common collocations
- 沮丧的心情dejected mood
- 感到沮丧to feel discouraged
Antonyms
Origin
The character 沮 combines the water radical 氵with 且 (qiě), originally depicting water being obstructed or stopped. This physical meaning of blockage extended metaphorically to emotional obstruction or discouragement.