Chinese Emotion Words Database

The Chinese Emotion Words Database comprises 598 emotion words compiled from a comprehensive literature review on emotion words and facial expressions. From this set, a core collection of 99 words was selected for their high emotional typicality and distinctiveness from other emotion words.

For each core emotion word, we provide relevant references along with participants’ evaluations of valence, arousal, and selection rates across multiple expressive channels. These channels include voice, facial expression, body movement, verbal language, touch, art, internal experience, and other (with space for participants to specify). The database can be downloaded below for research purposes only.

To cite this database, please use the following reference:

Pan, Z., Tan, H., Liu, S., & Fang, X. (2026). Beyond the basic six, static, and WEIRD: Exploring the range of emotions conveyed by facial expressions. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 122, 104836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2025.104836