Meanings of 精神
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Podcast: 精神
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AI study notes for 精神
意志 (yìzhì) - use 精神 when referring to general mental states or vitality, while 意志 emphasizes willpower or determination.
Be careful not to confuse 精神 with similar terms like 心情 (xīnqíng), which means mood. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, often paired with verbs like '有' (yǒu - to have) or adjectives like '好' (hǎo - good) to describe one's mental state positively.
As an HSK 5 word, 精神 connects well with other vocabulary dealing with emotions and psychological states, such as 心 (xīn - heart/mind) and 情绪 (qíngxù - mood). Focus on using it in sentences to describe feelings or attitudes.
Learners might confuse 精神 with similar words like 思想 (sīxiǎng - thought), using it incorrectly in contexts that don't pertain to spirit or mental states. For example, saying '我的思想很好' (Wǒ de sīxiǎng hěn hǎo) instead of '我的精神很好' (Wǒ de jīngshén hěn hǎo) is a common error.
Pronunciation of 精神
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Jason Explains 精神 to you
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Component characters
How to say spirit in Chinese
“spirit” in Chinese is精神
精神 (jīngshén) refers to the concept of spirit or mind, encompassing mental states, consciousness, and vitality. It is commonly used in both psychological contexts and everyday conversations to describe one's energy or enthusiasm, as well as the essence of thoughts or ideas.
When to use 精神
Be careful not to confuse 精神 with similar terms like 心情 (xīnqíng), which means mood. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, often paired with verbs like '有' (yǒu - to have) or adjectives like '好' (hǎo - good) to describe one's mental state positively.
精神 or something close to it
意志 (yìzhì) - use 精神 when referring to general mental states or vitality, while 意志 emphasizes willpower or determination.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 精神 with similar words like 思想 (sīxiǎng - thought), using it incorrectly in contexts that don't pertain to spirit or mental states. For example, saying '我的思想很好' (Wǒ de sīxiǎng hěn hǎo) instead of '我的精神很好' (Wǒ de jīngshén hěn hǎo) is a common error.
Write 精神
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Grammar patterns of 精神
精神 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 12 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.
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我们感到大家生活的____层次各不相同。
We felt we were living life on several different planes.
Example sentences for 精神 (10)
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Frequently asked questions about 精神
You can say '我今天精神很好' (Wǒ jīntiān jīngshén hěn hǎo), meaning 'I feel very energetic today.'
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