fennu: 愤怒 - Angry, Furious, Indignant

Keywords: fennu, 愤怒, angry in Chinese, furious in Chinese, Chinese word for anger, indignation in Chinese, Chinese emotions, 生气 vs 愤怒, HSK 5 vocabulary.

Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese word 愤怒 (fènnù), which means “furious” or “indignant.” This page explores its meaning, cultural context, and practical use. Unlike the common word for “angry” (生气, shēngqì), 愤怒 expresses a deep, often righteous anger reserved for serious situations like injustice or betrayal. Discover how to use this advanced term correctly and understand its significance in Chinese culture.

Pinyin (with tone marks): fènnù

Part of Speech: Adjective / Noun

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: To be furious, enraged, or filled with indignation.

In a Nutshell: 愤怒 (fènnù) is not your everyday “angry.” It's a strong, heavy emotion. Think of the fury you'd feel upon witnessing a grave injustice, being betrayed by a close friend, or seeing your country insulted. It implies that the anger is justified and profound. While the English word “angry” can be used for minor annoyances, 愤怒 is almost always reserved for serious matters.

愤 (fèn): This character is about a strong, pent-up emotion. The left part, the “heart” radical (忄), indicates it's a feeling. The right part, 奋 (fèn), means “to exert” or “to strive.” Together, they create a picture of a powerful emotion bursting forth from the heart. It often carries a sense of indignation or resentment.

怒 (nù): This character is also pure anger. The bottom part is the “heart” radical (心). The top part, 奴 (nú), means “slave.” One interpretation is the feeling of a heart being suppressed or controlled, leading to a powerful, rebellious anger.

When combined, 愤怒 (fènnù) creates a compound word for intense, justified anger—an indignant fury that comes from a deep place.

In traditional Chinese culture, maintaining social 和谐 (héxié) - harmony is paramount. Openly displaying strong, negative emotions is often discouraged as it can cause others to lose 面子 (miànzi) - “face” and disrupt group cohesion.

This makes the expression of 愤怒 (fènnù) a very significant act. It's not a casual outburst. When someone expresses 愤怒, it signals that a serious moral or ethical line has been crossed. It is a righteous anger, not just a personal frustration.

Compare this to the Western cultural encouragement to “express your feelings” or “let it all out.” In China, anger is often suppressed, and when 愤怒 is finally shown, it's a powerful statement against injustice, betrayal, or profound disrespect. It's the kind of anger a community might feel toward a corrupt official, not the anger you feel when someone cuts you off in traffic.

Formal and Written Contexts: You will most often encounter 愤怒 in news articles (e.g., “The citizens expressed their 愤怒 towards the new policy”), historical texts, formal speeches, and literature. It adds a sense of gravity and seriousness.

Dramatic Spoken Contexts: In daily conversation, using 愤怒 would sound overly dramatic and theatrical. A person might use it when recounting a story of serious wrongdoing or betrayal to emphasize the intensity of their feelings, but it's not for everyday complaints.

Social Media: On platforms like Weibo, 愤怒 is often used to express collective public outrage over social issues, scandals, or injustices. It signals a shared, righteous anger among netizens.

The Biggest Mistake: Using 愤怒 for Minor Annoyances. The most common error is treating 愤怒 like the English word “angry.” It is much stronger. If you are mad because you missed your bus or someone is late, you should use 生气 (shēngqì).

Incorrect: 我没找到我的钥匙，我很愤怒。(Wǒ méi zhǎodào wǒ de yàoshi, wǒ hěn fènnù.) - I can't find my keys, I'm furious.

Why it's wrong: This situation is a minor frustration, not a grave injustice. It makes you sound overly dramatic.

Correct: 我没找到我的钥匙，我很生气 (Wǒ méi zhǎodào wǒ de yàoshi, wǒ hěn shēngqì) or 我很着急 (wǒ hěn zhāojí - I'm anxious/worried).

生气 (shēngqì) - The most common word for “angry” or “upset.” It's the everyday counterpart to the more formal 愤怒.

发火 (fā huǒ) - Literally “to emit fire.” This verb phrase means “to lose one's temper” or “to fly into a rage.” It describes the action of getting angry.

恼火 (nǎohuǒ) - To be “annoyed,” “irritated,” or “vexed.” It's less intense than 生气.

怨恨 (yuànhèn) - “To resent” or “to hold a grudge.” This describes a deep, long-lasting bitterness, often kept internally.

义愤 (yìfèn) - “Righteous indignation.” A more specific type of 愤怒, where the “righteous” (义) nature of the anger is explicitly stated.

暴怒 (bàonù) - “Violent rage” or “fury.” Even more intense than 愤怒, this word emphasizes the explosive and potentially violent nature of the anger.

情绪 (qíngxù) - The general term for “emotion,” “feeling,” or “mood.”

和谐 (héxié) - The cultural concept of “harmony,” which often leads to the suppression of overt negative emotions like 愤怒.

面子 (miànzi) - “Face” or social standing. Expressing 愤怒 can cause someone to lose face, making it a serious social act.