失神 (shī shén) — (verb-object) to be absent-minded, to lose focus; (verb-object) to be in low spirits

Definition

A verb-object phrase meaning to lose focus or appear distracted — often just for a moment. The second sense ('low spirits') is less common at this level; the typical use is brief absent-mindedness.

verb
(verb-object) to be absent-mindedto lose focus(verb-object) to be in low spirits

Examples

  • ？失神？
    Nǐ zài xiǎng shén me? zěn me yì zhí zài shī shén?
    What are you thinking about? Why have you been absent-minded all along?
  • ，。
    Wǒ gāng cái shī le yí huì r shén, méi tīng dào nǐ shuō shén me.
    I was distracted for a moment just now and didn't hear what you said.
  • ，失神。
    Tā zuì jìn xīn qíng bù hǎo, cháng cháng shī shén.
    He's in a bad mood lately and is often in low spirits.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

失shīlose
神shénspirit

失 means lose, 神 means spirit, so the word describes losing focus or spirit.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape is explained as a fallen person's footprint surrounded by drops of blood; another reading pairs 手 (hand) and 乙 to show something falling from a hand.

Open 失 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
示示shìgod; deity
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn神shén
Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Open 神 →

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