Meaning of 精神
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- spirit
- mind
- consciousness
- thought
- mental
- psychological
- essence
- gist
Measure word: 個|个
- vigor; vitality
- spirited
- good-looking
How to use 精神
Said as jīngshén with a full second tone, it means spirit or mind, as in 精神压力 (jīngshén yālì, mental stress). Said as jīngshen with a neutral tone, it describes looking lively and energetic. Example: 你今天看起来很精神。(Nǐ jīntiān kàn qǐlái hěn jīngshen.) You look full of energy today.
精 (jīng) means refined or essential, and 神 (shén) means spirit. Put the refined essence together with the spirit and you get your inner mind, or the lively energy people can see in you.
Common mistake: Learners often use one pronunciation for both meanings. Use jīngshén for spirit or mind, and the neutral-tone jīngshen when you call someone energetic or sharp-looking. Also, 精神病 (jīngshénbìng) means mental illness, so avoid it as a casual joke.
精神 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
精 jīng · essence · 14 strokes
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神 shén · god · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 精神.
| 精彩 | jīngcǎi | wonderful; marvelous |
| 神秘 | shénmì | mysterious; mystery |
| 精力 | jīnglì | energy (physical or mental) |
| 神话 | shénhuà | legend; fairy tale |
| 神奇 | shénqí | magical; mystical |
| 神经 | shénjīng | nerve; mental state |
| 神情 | shénqíng | look; expression |
| 精美 | jīngměi | exquisite; elegant; fine |
| 精品 | jīngpǐn | quality goods; premium product |
| 神圣 | shénshèng | divine; hallow |
| 眼神 | yǎnshén | expression or emotion showing in one's eyes; meaningful glance |
| 精神病 | jīngshénbìng | mental disorder; psychosis |
Questions about 精神
What does 精神 mean?
精神 (jīngshén) means "spirit; mind" and is used as a noun and adjective.
How do you write 精神?
精神 is made of 2 characters: 精 (14 strokes), 神 (9 strokes). That is 23 strokes in total.
Is 精神 an HSK word?
Yes. 精神 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 精神 and 精力?
精力 (jīnglì) is the amount of energy you have to do things, as in 没有精力 (méiyǒu jīnglì, no energy left). 精神 can mean that too, but it also covers spirit, mindset and how lively you look.
How do you say someone is in good spirits with 精神?
Say 精神很好 (jīngshen hěn hǎo) or 很有精神 (hěn yǒu jīngshen). The opposite is 没精神 (méi jīngshen), meaning listless or tired.