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March 24, 2026
悲观(悲觀)bēiguān(bei1guan1)
悲观 (bēi guān) refers to a pessimistic outlook or attitude where one expects negative outcomes and focuses on the worst aspects of a situation. This word is often used in discussions about mental health, philosophy, and personal attitudes, indicating a tendency to see life through a negative lens.
Frequency#10323DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being labeled as 悲观 can sometimes carry a social stigma, as it contrasts with the cultural emphasis on resilience and collective harmony. People may be encouraged to adopt a more optimistic viewpoint for the sake of group morale.
Memory Tip
Think of 悲 (bēi) as 'sad' (悲伤, bēi shāng) and 观 (guān) as 'view'—so together, 悲观 means 'sad view.' Imagine looking through a cloudy lens that distorts everything into a gloomy scene, reinforcing the idea of pessimism.
Meanings of 悲观
bēiguān(bei1guan1)
1pessimistic
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 悲观
悲观Simplified
悲觀Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#10323Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 悲观
Podcast: 悲观
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AI Study Notes for 悲观
Quick Contrast
消极 (xiāojí) - use 悲观 when specifically referring to a pessimistic outlook, whereas 消极 emphasizes a general negativity or passivity.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 悲 (bēi) as 'sad' (悲伤, bēi shāng) and 观 (guān) as 'view'—so together, 悲观 means 'sad view.' Imagine looking through a cloudy lens that distorts everything into a gloomy scene, reinforcing the idea of pessimism.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 悲观 (bēi guān) is generally used in more serious contexts and can carry a negative connotation. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations, and watch out for the tone, as mispronouncing it may lead to misunderstanding.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 悲观 connects well with other adjectives describing attitudes and emotions. Focus on its usage in describing behaviors or views in various contexts, and consider learning related terms like 乐观 (lè guān, optimistic) to see the contrast.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being labeled as 悲观 can sometimes carry a social stigma, as it contrasts with the cultural emphasis on resilience and collective harmony. People may be encouraged to adopt a more optimistic viewpoint for the sake of group morale.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 悲观 with 沮丧 (jǔ sàng), which means 'depressed.' For example, saying '我很悲观，因为我感到沮丧' (I am pessimistic because I feel depressed) incorrectly conflates the terms. Instead, clarify the difference by saying '我很悲观，认为未来没有希望' (I am pessimistic, believing there is no hope for the future).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 悲观
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Grammar Patterns of 悲观
悲观 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
现在看来似乎____论者是正确的。
It looks as if the pessimists are being proved right.
Example Sentences for 悲观 (5)
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1
现在看来似乎悲观论者是正确的。
xiàn zài kàn lái sì hū bēi guān lùn zhě shì zhèng què de。
It looks as if the pessimists are being proved right.
2
“但那是不会发生的。”她悲观地下了结论。
“ “ dàn nà shì bù huì fā shēng。” de 。” tā bēi guān dì xià le。
"But it'll not happen," she concluded pessimistically.
3
未逾 四十八 岁的悲观主义者,是知道得太多之人; 而年逾 四十八 岁的乐观主义者,是知道得太
wèi yú sì shí bā suì de bēi guān zhǔ, yì zhě , shì zhī dào dé tài; duō zhī rén ; ér nián yú sì shí bā suì, de lè guān zhǔ yì
The man who is a pessimist before forty - eight knows too much; the man who is an optimist after forty - eight knows ...
Hardy has often been criticised for an excessively pessimistic view of life.
Cultural Notes for 悲观
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being labeled as 悲观 can sometimes carry a social stigma, as it contrasts with the cultural emphasis on resilience and collective harmony. People may be encouraged to adopt a more optimistic viewpoint for the sake of group morale.
Frequently Asked Questions about 悲观
The opposite of 悲观 (bēi guān) is 乐观 (lè guān), which means optimistic.
Yes, 悲观 can be used to describe a person who consistently has a negative outlook on life.
悲观 is more formal and is often used in discussions about psychology or philosophy.
