神经衰弱 (shén jīng shuāi ruò) — neurasthenia; nervous breakdown (also used casually for chronic stress or insomnia)

Definition

A medical term for neurasthenia (chronic fatigue, insomnia, and irritability from prolonged stress). In everyday talk it loosely means ongoing exhaustion or burnout, not a serious disease.

noun
neurasthenianervous breakdown (also used casually for chronic stress or insomnia)

Examples

  • ，神经衰弱。
    Tā gōng zuò yā lì tài dà, dé le shén jīng shuāi ruò.
    He's under so much work pressure that he's developed neurasthenia.
  • ，神经衰弱。
    Zuì jìn wǒ zǒng shì shī mián, yī shēng shuō wǒ yǒu diǎn shén jīng shuāi ruò.
    I've been having insomnia lately; the doctor said I have a bit of neurasthenia.
  • 神经衰弱，。
    shén jīng shuāi ruò Bú shì shén me yán zhòng de bìng, hǎo hǎo xiū xi jiù néng hǎo.
    Neurasthenia isn't a serious illness; you can get better with good rest.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

神经nerve
神shénspirit经jīngmeridian
偏正Modifier + head
衰弱weak
衰shuāidecline弱ruòweak
联合Side by side

“神经” names the nerves, and “衰弱” describes them as declining and weak.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old form of 衰 pictures a palm-fiber raincoat, a garment later written with another character.

Open 衰 →

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

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 彡彡shānhair, meaning "decoration" in this case

弱 pairs 弓 (bow) with 彡 (hair), showing a decorative bow that is functionally inferior, or a shaking, worn-out bow.

Open 弱 →

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