fāchóu: 发愁 - To Worry, To Be Anxious, To Be Troubled

• Keywords: fāchóu, 发愁, how to say worry in Chinese, anxious in Chinese, troubled meaning, Chinese vocabulary, learn Chinese, 发愁 vs 担心, 发愁 vs 着急, HSK 5 word, Chinese emotions
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 发愁 (fāchóu), a common Chinese word used to express a deep sense of worry or anxiety, often when you feel stuck or don't know how to solve a problem. This guide breaks down the characters, cultural context, and practical examples to help you distinguish 发愁 (fāchóu) from similar words like 担心 (dānxīn) and use it like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fāchóu
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be worried or troubled by a difficult situation with no apparent solution.
• In a Nutshell: 发愁 (fāchóu) is more than just a fleeting concern; it's the feeling of having a heavy weight on your mind. Imagine furrowing your brow and sighing because you're pondering a persistent problem—like how to pay the bills or what to do about your future. It implies a state of being stuck and distressed, actively troubled by a lack of options.

• 发 (fā): This character often means “to send out,” “to emit,” “to develop,” or “to start.” In this context, it functions like a prefix that means to initiate or enter a state.
• 愁 (chóu): This is the core of the word's meaning: “to worry” or “sorrow.” It's a beautifully descriptive character, composed of 秋 (qiū), meaning “autumn,” on top of 心 (xīn), meaning “heart.” In classical Chinese poetry and culture, autumn often symbolizes decline, melancholy, and hardship. Therefore, a “heart in autumn” (秋心) vividly paints a picture of a heart filled with gloom and worry.

When combined, 发愁 (fāchóu) literally means “to emit sorrow” or “to begin to worry,” capturing the idea of falling into a troubled state of mind.

• A Grounded, Practical Worry: Unlike the abstract concept of “anxiety” in the West, 发愁 (fāchóu) is almost always tied to concrete, real-world problems. People 发愁 about things like money (钱), employment (工作), housing (房子), or their children's education (孩子的教育). It's a very human and relatable feeling rooted in the practical challenges of life.
• Comparison to “Being Troubled”: A good Western parallel is the phrase “to be troubled by something.” While you can “worry” about whether your team will win the game, you are “troubled” by the fact that you might lose your job. 发愁 (fāchóu) captures this deeper, more burdensome feeling. It implies a problem that sits with you, demanding mental energy because the solution isn't obvious.
• A Social Signal: In Chinese culture, which often values communal problem-solving, expressing that you are 发愁 can be an indirect way of signaling to family and friends that you are facing a hardship. It can be an invitation for others to offer advice, support, or a listening ear. It's less of a clinical diagnosis and more of a shared human experience.

• Everyday Conversations: This is a very common word in daily spoken Mandarin. You will hear it used among friends and family when discussing personal difficulties.
  • Example: “我最近在为找工作的事发愁。” (Wǒ zuìjìn zài wèi zhǎo gōngzuò de shì fāchóu.) - “I've been worrying about finding a job lately.”
• Informal Tone: 发愁 (fāchóu) is generally informal. In a formal or written report, a more literary term like 忧虑 (yōulǜ) might be used instead.
• Connotation: The connotation is entirely negative, but in a sympathetic way. It describes a universally understood state of distress. When someone says they are 发愁, the typical response is one of empathy and concern.

• Example 1:
  • 他整天为钱的事情发愁。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhěng tiān wèi qián de shìqing fāchóu.
  • English: He worries about money all day long.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example. The structure “为…发愁” (wèi…fāchóu) means “to worry about/for…” and is extremely common. The problem (money) is persistent and difficult to solve.
• Example 2:
  • 别发愁了，我们总会找到办法的。
  • Pinyin: Bié fāchóu le, wǒmen zǒng huì zhǎodào bànfǎ de.
  • English: Stop worrying, we'll find a solution eventually.
  • Analysis: This sentence is used to console someone. It directly addresses the feeling of 发愁 and offers reassurance, acknowledging the other person's feeling of helplessness.
• Example 3:
  • 看到这么低的考试分数，他又开始发愁了。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào zhème dī de kǎoshì fēnshù, tā yòu kāishǐ fāchóu le.
  • English: Seeing such a low exam score, he started to worry again.
  • Analysis: This shows that 发愁 is a state you can “start” (开始) to be in. The low score presents a problem (how to pass the class, what parents will say) without an easy fix.
• Example 4:
  • 你看他那愁眉苦脸的样子，不知道在发愁什么呢。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn tā nà chóuméi-kǔliǎn de yàngzi, bù zhīdào zài fāchóu shénme ne.
  • English: Look at his worried expression; I wonder what he's troubled about.
  • Analysis: This connects the internal feeling of 发愁 to the external expression, often described by the idiom 愁眉苦脸 (chóuméi-kǔliǎn) - “a face of sorrow and bitterness.”
• Example 5:
  • 毕业以后是回老家还是留在大城市，这让他很发愁。
  • Pinyin: Bìyè yǐhòu shì huí lǎojiā háishì liú zài dà chéngshì, zhè ràng tā hěn fāchóu.
  • English: Whether to return to his hometown or stay in the big city after graduation made him very troubled.
  • Analysis: 发愁 is perfect for dilemmas where there is no clear “right” answer, and each path has significant trade-offs. The structure “让…发愁” (ràng…fāchóu) means “to make someone worry.”
• Example 6:
  • 农民们正发愁今年的收成不好。
  • Pinyin: Nóngmínmen zhèng fāchóu jīnnián de shōucheng bù hǎo.
  • English: The farmers are currently worried that this year's harvest will be bad.
  • Analysis: This highlights a worry tied to livelihood and external factors beyond one's control (like the weather), a perfect situation for 发愁.
• Example 7:
  • 房租又要涨了，真叫人发愁。
  • Pinyin: Fángzū yòu yào zhǎng le, zhēn jiào rén fāchóu.
  • English: The rent is going up again, it's really troubling.
  • Analysis: “叫人发愁” (jiào rén fāchóu) is a common phrase meaning “it makes one worry.” It's used to comment on a generally difficult situation.
• Example 8:
  • 这孩子真不让人省心，天天为他发愁。
  • Pinyin: Zhè háizi zhēn bù ràng rén shěngxīn, tiāntiān wèi tā fāchóu.
  • English: This child is really a handful, I worry about him every day.
  • Analysis: Here, the speaker is worried for someone else. This is a common sentiment for parents or caregivers, who take on the burden of worrying about another's well-being.
• Example 9:
  • 我没什么可发愁的，工作稳定，家庭和睦。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ méi shénme kě fāchóu de, gōngzuò wěndìng, jiātíng hémù.
  • English: I don't have anything to be troubled about; my job is stable and my family is harmonious.
  • Analysis: This shows the negative usage, defining a good life as the absence of things to 发愁 about.
• Example 10:
  • 老板最近一直为公司的资金问题发愁。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn zuìjìn yīzhí wèi gōngsī de zījīn wèntí fāchóu.
  • English: The boss has been constantly troubled by the company's financial problems recently.
  • Analysis: This applies the term to a business context. The problem is significant (cash flow) and there's no easy solution, causing the boss prolonged stress.

• 发愁 (fāchóu) vs. 担心 (dānxīn): This is the most critical distinction for learners.
  • 担心 (dānxīn): General “worry” or “concern,” often about a potential future event. It's a mental state.
    • Correct: 我担心明天会下雨。 (Wǒ dānxīn míngtiān huì xià yǔ.) - I'm worried it might rain tomorrow.
  • 发愁 (fāchóu): Deeper “trouble” or “anxiety” over an existing problem you don't know how to solve. It's a heavier emotional state.
    • Correct: 这几个月没下雨，农民们都为庄稼发愁。 (Zhè jǐ ge yuè méi xià yǔ, nóngmínmen dōu wèi zhuāngjia fāchóu.) - It hasn't rained for months, so the farmers are all troubled about the crops.
  • Common Mistake: Using 发愁 for a simple, fleeting concern.
    • Incorrect: ~~快迟到了，我很发愁。~~ (Kuài chídào le, wǒ hěn fāchóu.)
    • Why it's wrong: Being late causes urgency and impatience, not deep-seated sorrow. The correct word is 着急 (zhāojí). “快迟到了，我很着急。” (Kuài chídào le, wǒ hěn zhāojí.)
• 发愁 (fāchóu) vs. 着急 (zhāojí):
  • 着急 (zhāojí): Feeling anxious because of urgency or impatience. You need something to happen quickly. (e.g., waiting for a bus, rushing to meet a deadline).
  • 发愁 (fāchóu): Feeling troubled because of a problem's difficulty, not its urgency. (e.g., not having enough qualifications for a dream job).

• 担心 (dānxīn): The most common word for “to worry.” Less intense and more general than `发愁`.
• 着急 (zhāojí): To be anxious due to urgency or impatience. The focus is on time.
• 烦恼 (fánnǎo): To be vexed, annoyed, or bothered. Refers to the source of annoyance or the feeling itself. You might 发愁 because you have too many 烦恼.
• 忧虑 (yōulǜ): A more formal, literary, and profound word for “to worry” or “be apprehensive.” Often used in writing.
• 操心 (cāoxīn): To worry about and take pains over something, usually for someone else's benefit (e.g., a mother 操心 for her child). It implies taking on responsibility.
• 愁眉苦脸 (chóuméi-kǔliǎn): An idiom meaning “to have a worried and pained look on one's face.” A perfect description of someone who is 发愁.
• 忧愁 (yōuchóu): (Noun/Adjective) Sadness, sorrow, melancholy. More of a passive, sad feeling compared to the active mental struggle of 发愁.
• 解愁 (jiěchóu): (Verb) To relieve or dissipate one's sorrow/worries, often through distractions like drinking or talking with friends. (e.g., 借酒解愁 - jiè jiǔ jiě chóu - to drown one's sorrows in wine).