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心理 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
心理xīnlǐmentalHSK 5, n, 15 strokes, rank #1326, Hard
心理xīnlǐpsychologicalHSK 5, n, 15 strokes, rank #1326, Hard
xīnlǐ(xin1li3)xin li T1
  1. 1mental
  2. 2psychological
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March 24, 2026

心理xīnlǐ(xin1li3)

心理 (xīn lǐ) refers to anything related to the mind or psychological processes. It is commonly used in contexts discussing mental health, behavior, or emotional states. This term often appears in academic and clinical discussions, as well as in everyday conversations about feelings and thoughts.

Strokes15Frequency#1326DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there is a growing awareness and acceptance of mental health issues, and the term 心理 has become increasingly important in discussions about well-being and psychological support. The rise of心理咨询 (xīn lǐ zī xún, psychological counseling) reflects this cultural shift.

Memory Tip

Think of 心 (xīn) as a heart symbolizing feelings, and 理 (lǐ) as a logic or reasoning. Imagine a heart that uses logic to understand emotions—this connection helps you remember that 心理 encompasses both the emotional (心) and rational (理) aspects of the mind.

Meanings of 心理

xīnlǐ(xin1li3)
1mental
2psychological
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 心理

心理Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1326Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 心理

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Podcast: 心理

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AI Study Notes for 心理

Quick Contrast

心理 (xīn lǐ) vs 心态 (xīn tài) — use 心理 for broader psychological concepts, while 心态 focuses on one's mental attitude or mindset.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 心理 with related terms like 精神 (jīng shén), which focuses more on spirit or mental state rather than psychological processes. This word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is especially prominent in psychological and academic discussions. Remember to use the correct tones: 心 (xīn) with a high level tone and 理 (lǐ) with a rising tone.

HSK Study Tips

At HSK 5, students should focus on understanding psychological vocabulary and how it connects to other related terms like 情感 (qíng gǎn, emotion) and 思维 (sī wéi, thinking). Practice using 心理 in sentences to describe mental states or psychological phenomena effectively.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 心理 with 情感 (emotion), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '他的心理不好' (His feelings are not good) is incorrect; it should be '他的情感不好' to refer to emotional issues.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 心理

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Component Characters

心xīnheart
HSK 44 strokes心
View full entry
理lǐtexture
HSK 611 strokes王
View full entry

How to say mental in Chinese

“mental” in Chinese is心理xīnlǐ

心理 (xīn lǐ) refers to anything related to the mind or psychological processes. It is commonly used in contexts discussing mental health, behavior, or emotional states. This term often appears in academic and clinical discussions, as well as in everyday conversations about feelings and thoughts.

When to use 心理

Be careful not to confuse 心理 with related terms like 精神 (jīng shén), which focuses more on spirit or mental state rather than psychological processes. This word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is especially prominent in psychological and academic discussions. Remember to use the correct tones: 心 (xīn) with a high level tone and 理 (lǐ) with a rising tone.

心理 or something close to it

心理 (xīn lǐ) vs 心态 (xīn tài) — use 心理 for broader psychological concepts, while 心态 focuses on one's mental attitude or mindset.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 心理 with 情感 (emotion), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '他的心理不好' (His feelings are not good) is incorrect; it should be '他的情感不好' to refer to emotional issues.

Write 心理

心
理

Practice writing 心理 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 心理

心理 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons2
Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

让你的医生给你推荐一位临床____学家。

Ask your doctor for a referral to a clinical psychologist.

Example Sentences for 心理 (10)

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1
让你的医生给你推荐一位临床心理学家。

ràng nǐ de yī shēng gěi nǐ tuī jiàn yī wèi lín chuáng xīn lǐ xué jiā。

Ask your doctor for a referral to a clinical psychologist.
2
现在，网球明星的随行人员中有些是心理培训师。

xiàn zài， ， wǎng qiú míng xīng de suí háng rén yuán zhōng yǒu xiē shì xīn lǐ péi xùn。

Mind trainers are now part of a tennis star's retinue.
3
“大约6个月后，”弗洛伊德写道，“汉斯克服了他的嫉妒心理。”

“ “ dà6 yuē 6 gè，” yuè hòu ，” fú luò yī，“ dé xiě dào ，“ hàn sī kè fú le tā de。”

"Some six months later," Freud writes, "Hans had got over his jealousy."
4
许多人都患有能够辨识的酗酒、吸毒或心理障碍。

xǔ duō rén dū huàn yǒu néng gòu biàn shí de xù jiǔ、 、 xī dú huò xīn lǐ zhàng。

Many suffered from a definable alcohol, drug, or mental disorder.
5
大部分人天生有种反对技术进步的心理。他们抗拒变革。

dà bù fēn rén tiān shēng yǒu zhǒng fǎn duì jì shù jìn bù de xīn lǐ。 。 tā mén kàng jù biàn。

The majority have a built-in Luddite mentality; they are resistant to change.
6
那可能是不值一提的心理，但它却是我唯一的解释。

nà kě néng shì bù zhí yī tí de xīn lǐ， ， dàn tā què shì wǒ wéi yī de jiě。

That may be two-bit psychology, but it's the only explanation I have.
7
我们知道有些性犯罪者会愚弄给他们做测评的心理学家。

wǒ mén zhī dào yǒu xiē xìng fàn zuì zhě huì yú nòng gěi tā mén zuò cè píng de xīn lǐ xué jiā。

We know some sex offenders dupe the psychologists who assess them.
8
即使是轻微的头部创伤也会对心理产生长期影响。

jí shǐ shì qīng wēi de tóu bù chuàng shāng yě huì duì xīn lǐ chǎn shēng cháng qī yǐng xiǎng。

Even minor head injuries can cause long-lasting psychological effects.
9
在心理治疗中，她开始逐渐放下对麦克的痴迷。

zài xīn lǐ zhì liáo zhōng， ， tā kāi shǐ zhú jiàn fàng xià duì mài kè de chī。

In therapy, she began to let go of her obsession with Mike.
10
心理测试能够使组织机构避免犯下损失惨重的大错。

xīn lǐ cè shì néng gòu shǐ zǔ zhī jī gòu bì miǎn fàn xià sǔn shī cǎn zhòng de dà cuò。

Psychometric tests can save organizations from grim and costly mistakes.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 心理

No, while 心理 is often used in academic and clinical contexts, it can also be used informally when discussing emotions and mental states.

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