担心

担心 (dān xīn) means to worry or be concerned about something. It expresses a feeling of anxiety or fear regarding a potential problem or negative outcome.

The character 担 (dān) originally meant 'to carry' or 'to bear,' and 心 (xīn) means 'heart.' Together, they metaphorically express the idea of carrying a burden in one's heart, which is how the concept of worry is formed.

担心 is commonly used in everyday conversations to describe concerns about personal issues, health, relationships, or future events. In Chinese culture, it is seen as a natural emotional response, but excessive worrying is often discouraged in favor of maintaining inner peace and resilience.