凄恻

悽惻

qīcè

adjective

Meanings

1 heartbroken
2 sorrowful
3 mournful
4 deeply grieved

Characters

bleak / mournful

grieved / sorrowful

Examples

她的歌声哀婉凄恻。

Tā de gēshēng āiwǎn qīcè.

Her singing was plaintive and sorrowful.

读到这一段,他不由得心中凄恻。

Dú dào zhè yí duàn, tā bùyóude xīnzhōng qīcè.

Reading this passage, he couldn't help feeling heartbroken.

Tips

register

Literary. 恻 (cè) means 'grieved / pained' — the same character in 恻隐之心 (cèyǐn zhī xīn — compassionate heart, from 《孟子》). 凄恻 typically describes music, voices, expressions, or moods in elevated writing.

Stroke Order

凄 qī

恻 cè