消愁

xiāochóu

verb #28,576

Meanings

1 to dispel sorrow
2 to drown one's sorrows
3 to relieve melancholy

Characters

to disappear; to eliminate; to dispel

sorrow; melancholy; to worry; grief

Examples

他借酒消愁，喝了整整一瓶。

Tā jiè jiǔ xiāochóu, hēle zhěngzhěng yī píng.

He drowned his sorrows in alcohol, drinking a whole bottle.

音乐是她消愁解闷的最好方式。

Yīnyuè shì tā xiāochóu jiěmèn de zuì hǎo fāngshì.

Music is the best way for her to dispel sorrow and lift her spirits.

Tips

usage

消愁 often appears in the idiom 借酒消愁 (to drown sorrows in drink) which dates back to classic Chinese poetry. The fuller phrase 消愁解闷 (to dispel sorrow and relieve boredom) is also common.

Stroke Order

消 xiāo

愁 chóu