Chinese Emotions & Feelings — 高兴 / 开心 / 难过 / 生气 / 害怕 / 紧张

Every real conversation includes how people feel. The core word for mood and feeling is 心情 xīnqíng (mood), and the general word for feeling or emotion is 感受 gǎnshòu (feeling).

To describe your own state, use 感觉 gǎnjué (to feel) or the verb 觉得 juéde (to think/feel): 我感觉很累 (I feel tired), 我觉得很开心 (I feel very happy).

高兴 gāoxìng and 开心 kāixīn both mean "happy". 开心 leans casual and lively; 高兴 is slightly more neutral. 我很高兴 (I am glad) is common when meeting someone, and 今天很开心 (I am very happy today) is everyday speech.

满意 mǎnyì means "satisfied". Use it after a service or result: 我很满意 (I am satisfied), 对...满意 (satisfied with...): 我对这个结果很满意 (I am satisfied with this result).

To ask how someone feels, say 你高兴吗? (are you happy?) or 你开心吗? (are you happy?). A common answer is 挺开心的 (pretty happy) or 还行 (so-so).

难过 nánguò means "sad" or "upset". 我很难过 (I am very sad) is a direct and honest way to say you feel down. 伤心 shāngxīn means "heartbroken" and is stronger than 难过.

失望 shīwàng means "disappointed". Use 对...失望: 我对你很失望 (I am disappointed in you), or 有点失望 (a bit disappointed).

To comfort someone, say 别难过 (do not be sad), 没关系 (it is okay), or 一切都会好起来的 (everything will get better).

生气 shēngqì means "angry". 我生气了 (I am angry) or 我很生气 (I am very angry). To say someone made you angry, use 让我生气: 这件事让我很生气 (this thing made me very angry).

担心 dānxīn means "worried". Use 担心 + clause: 我担心会下雨 (I am worried it will rain), or 别担心 (do not worry).

着急 zháojí means "anxious" or "in a hurry". 别着急 (do not rush) is a common reassurance.

害怕 hàipà means "afraid" or "scared". Use 害怕 + noun/clause: 我害怕打针 (I am afraid of injections), 别害怕 (do not be scared).

紧张 jǐnzhāng means "nervous" or "tense". 我很紧张 (I am nervous) is common before an exam, a speech, or a first conversation. You can say 别紧张 (relax, do not be nervous).

To soften these, add 有一点儿 yǒu yìdiǎnr (a little bit): 我有一点儿紧张 (I am a little nervous), 我有一点儿害怕 (I am a bit scared).

累 lèi means "tired", 饿 è means "hungry", and 舒服 shūfu means "comfortable" or "good". These are physical states you use constantly: 我很累 (I am tired), 我饿了 (I am hungry), 这个沙发很舒服 (this sofa is comfortable).

渴 kě means "thirsty", 困 kùn means "sleepy". 我不舒服 (I do not feel well) is a polite way to say you feel unwell or uncomfortable.

舒服 can also describe how something feels on your body: 这件衣服很舒服 (this clothing is comfortable).

In Mandarin, adjectives do not need "is" — you attach the feeling word directly with an intensifier. 很 hěn is the default: 很高兴 (very happy), 很累 (very tired). Note 很 in this pattern is often just a neutral linker, not always a strong "very".

有一点儿 yǒu yìdiǎnr means "a little bit" and softens the feeling: 有一点儿难过 (a little sad). 太...了 tài...le means "too...": 太累了 (too tired).

极了 jíle and 死了 sǐle add strong emphasis in casual speech: 高兴极了 (extremely happy), 累死了 (dead tired).

Do not say 我是高兴 (I am happy) the way English uses "am". Use 我很高兴 with 很 as the linker, or 我高兴 (I am happy) without it — never insert 是.

Do not confuse 开心 and 高兴 with 快乐 kuàilè. 快乐 is more literary and often appears in fixed phrases like 生日快乐 (happy birthday) and 节日快乐 (happy holidays); in daily speech 开心/高兴 are more natural.

Do not confuse 难过 (sad) with 困难 (difficult). 难过 describes an emotion; 困难 describes a problem or difficulty.