悶 (mèn) - Bored & depressed

悶Tone 4

mèn ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

悶 · mèn

Bored;

depressed;

stuffy;

sealed;

to sulk;

to shut oneself away.

Boreddepressedstuffy

Usage highlights

BoringStuffyDepressedSulkBoring jobSealed pot

Synonyms

  • 烦— annoyed; vexed
  • 郁— gloomy; depressed
  • 憋— to hold back; to suppress

Antonyms

  • 乐— happy; joyful
  • 畅— free-flowing; unimpeded
  • 爽— refreshing; invigorating

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I feel bored and lonely (感到闷闷不乐).
  • The room is very stuffy (房间里很闷热).
  • He is sulking in his room (他在房间里生闷气).
  • This is a sealed jar (这是一个闷罐子).

Collocations

  • Boring(闷的)
  • Stuffy(闷热)
  • Depressed(闷闷不乐)
  • Sulk(生闷气)
  • Boring job(闷差事)
  • Sealed pot(闷罐)

Idioms

  • Depressed and unhappy(闷闷不乐)
  • A thunderclap on a sunny day(晴天霹雳，也作闷雷)
  • To bottle up one's anger(闷着一肚子气)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character combines 'heart/mind' (心) under 'door/gate' (门), suggesting a closed-off or suppressed emotional state.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, 'men' (stagnation) is considered a cause of various physical and mental ailments.
  • The concept relates to the cultural value of emotional balance and the negative effects of repressed feelings.

FAQ