担心
dānxīn
worried / concerned
担心 means worried or concerned. It is one of the most useful emotion words for daily life, from worrying about health to being concerned about someone.
Example sentences
妈妈总是担心我。
Māma zǒngshì dānxīn wǒ.
Mom is always worried about me.
别担心，我会帮你的。
Bié dānxīn, wǒ huì bāng nǐ de.
Don't worry, I will help you.
How to use 担心 in practice
担心 is a emotions & feelings item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin dānxīn, then connect it to the meaning “worried / concerned” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 妈妈总是担心我。 / 别担心，我会帮你的。.
When you practice 担心, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 担心 only as “worried / concerned” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Chinese speaking practice, start a short conversation, and use 担心 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 担心 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only dānxīn, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
How do I say "don't worry" in Chinese?
The most common ways are 别担心 and 不用担心. For a casual "no worries," use 没事.
How can I remember 担心 faster?
Say 担心 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 担心 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 担心 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach