精神抖擞 (jīng shén dǒu sǒu) — in high spirits, in excellent form; full of energy and vigor

Definition

A vivid chengyu meaning 'brisk and full of energy', used for people looking alert and ready for action. Often paired with 地 to modify a verb (e.g., 精神抖擞地出发).

idiom
in high spiritsin excellent formfull of energy and vigor

Examples

  • 精神抖擞。
    Tā měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu jīng shén dǒu sǒu dì qù shàng bān.
    He goes to work in high spirits every morning.
  • 精神抖擞。
    Dà jiā jīng shén dǒu sǒu dì zǒu jìn le bǐ sài chǎng dì.
    Everyone entered the competition arena full of energy.
  • ，精神抖擞。
    Lǎo rén jia suī rán nián jì dà, dàn yī rán jīng shén dǒu sǒu.
    Although the elderly person is old, they are still in excellent form.

Origin

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 抖 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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