"זה עצוב."

Translation: This is sad.

[nettale]

Would this describe a situation?

[AlmogL]

Yes. Never a person. That would be הוא עצוב / היא עצובה.

[lebensfrei.]

this is so sad alexa play despacito

[marcoiris1]

זה די עצוב אלקסה נגני דספסיטו

[MiriS16]

Can this mean both 'it is sad' and 'this is sad'?

[NirYaniv]

Yes.

[BrotherDavid]

For those interested in Semetic roots: So עָצָב means a "NERVE" in Heb, in cousin language Arabic it's exactly the same word عصب and same pronunciation. But the Hebrew adj עָצוּב "sad" is 'haziin' or 'za'laan' in Arabic. However the root עצב = عصب pops up again in the verb: bit'aSab 'alay (بتعصب علي) in Arabic is to get upset/angry with s/o or to be intolerant of them.

[AllanCruz0311]

זֶה עָצוּב

[Feras..]

But what is the prounounce of ע here?

[sarahperodri]

a, it's atsúv

[tprodanov]

Could "זאת עצובה" be also used?

[Kfer697762]

I hate it when they introduce nrw words without preparation. How is one to guess?