sorrowful

/ˈsɒrəʊfl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɑːrəʊfl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsär-(ˌ)ō-fəl -ə-fəl, ˈsȯr-/ (ame, mw)

sorrowful — 形容詞

  • sorrowfulpositive
  • more sorrowfulcomparative
  • most sorrowfulsuperlative

1. feeling deep, lasting sadness — especially after losing someone or something imp

1.形容詞C1
釋義

悲傷的

因失去或遺憾而深感悲傷，或流露出此情緒

feeling deep, lasting sadness — especially after losing someone or something important — or showing this feeling on your face, in your voice, or in what you create.

例句

Dewi's grandmother grew quiet and sorrowful in the weeks after her husband died.

Dewi 的祖母在丈夫過世後的幾週裡變得沉默又哀傷。

predicative use: be/grow/become + sorrowful describes a person's state

The choir sang a slow, sorrowful song at the memorial for the village teacher.

合唱團在村裡老師的追思會上唱了一首緩慢、哀傷的歌。

attributive use: sorrowful + noun for songs, music, poems, or other expressive works

同義詞
  • mournful

    very close in meaning; slightly more focused on outward signs of grief (a mournful tune).

  • doleful

    literary; emphasises a heavy, drawn-out quality of sadness, sometimes mildly ironic.

  • grief-stricken

    stronger; describes someone overwhelmed by a specific recent loss.

  • melancholy

    quieter and more reflective; long-lasting low mood without a clear single cause.

反義詞
  • joyful

    direct opposite for the emotional state.

  • cheerful

    everyday opposite for outward manner or expression.

用法筆記

Stronger and more formal than 'sad'; suggests sadness rooted in loss, grief, or regret rather than a passing mood. Common in literary, religious, and ceremonial writing. Often describes both people and things that express or arouse sorrow (a sorrowful widow / a sorrowful melody).

常見錯誤

❌I felt sorrowful that we lost the football match.
✅I felt disappointed that we lost the football match.
💡'sorrowful' is too heavy for everyday setbacks; reserve it for serious grief or loss.
❌The weather was sorrowful today.
✅The weather was gloomy today.
💡'sorrowful' is about human feeling or its expression, not about weather or surroundings.