sorrow

Compared meaning: very deep sadness (noun).

比较义项：极度悲伤（名词）。

• grief

  Grief is the word most strongly linked to death and bereavement, describing the deep sadness felt after a loved one dies; it often appears in set phrases like grief counseling.

  grief 与死亡、丧亲的联系最紧密，指亲人去世后感受到的深切悲痛，常出现在诸如grief辅导这样的固定搭配中。

  She sought grief counseling after her husband's sudden death.

  丈夫骤然离世后，她去接受了grief辅导。

• sorrow 本词

  Sorrow is a broader, more literary word for deep sadness caused by loss or misfortune in general, not necessarily death, and is common in formal or narrative writing.

  sorrow 是更书面、更宽泛的词，指因各种失去或不幸而产生的深切悲伤，不一定与死亡有关，常见于正式或叙事性的文字中。

  Tears of sorrow rolled down her face as she read his letter.

  她读着他的信时，饱含sorrow的泪水从脸颊滑落。

• heartbreak

  Heartbreak describes intense sadness from an emotional letdown, such as a breakup or a crushing loss like a defeat, and sounds more everyday and informal than grief or sorrow.

  heartbreak 指因感情受挫而产生的强烈悲伤，例如分手，或比赛落败这类沉重打击，语气比 grief 和 sorrow 更口语化、更日常。

  Losing the championship game caused real heartbreak for the whole team.

  输掉冠军赛给全队带来了真正的heartbreak。

Grief, sorrow, and heartbreak all mean deep sadness, but focus differs. Grief is most linked to death, the sadness felt after a loved one dies. Sorrow is broader and literary, for deep sadness from any loss. Heartbreak is everyday, for sadness from an emotional setback.

这三个词都表示强烈的悲伤情绪，但侧重和语域不同：grief 多指因亲人离世等重大失去而产生的悲痛，常与哀悼、丧亲相关；sorrow 更书面，泛指各种失去或不幸带来的深切忧伤，常见于正式或文学性文字；heartbreak 语气较口语化，多指感情受挫、比赛失利等打击带来的心碎，不限于死亡。