生气
shēngqì
angry / mad
生气 means angry or mad. It is an important emotion word for expressing frustration or understanding when others are upset.
Example sentences
你为什么生气？
Nǐ wèishénme shēngqì?
Why are you angry?
别生气，我只是开玩笑。
Bié shēngqì, wǒ zhǐshì kāi wánxiào.
Don't be angry, I was just joking.
How to use 生气 in practice
生气 is a emotions & feelings item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin shēngqì, then connect it to the meaning “angry / mad” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 你为什么生气？ / 别生气，我只是开玩笑。.
When you practice 生气, 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 生气 only as “angry / mad” 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 生气 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 生气 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only shēngqì, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
Is 生气 a strong word?
It is moderately strong. For milder annoyance, use 不高兴 or 不太开心. For intense anger, 愤怒 is stronger.
How can I remember 生气 faster?
Say 生气 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 生气 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 生气 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach