Definition
费神 is a polite, formulaic verb phrase meaning 'to trouble someone with mental effort' — you use it as a courteous way to ask someone to do something that requires attention (like reviewing a document). It also literally means 'to expend mental energy'. It's a separable verb (离合词): the object 神 can be modified (费了很多神, 费了不少神). In the polite request pattern, it usually doesn't split.
v.o.
(formal) to bother (someone) with mental effortmay I trouble you to…to exert great mental energyto take trouble over
Examples
- 费神？Zhè fèn bàogào nín fèi shén kàn yí xià hǎo ma?Could I trouble you to take a look at this report?
- ，。Wèile gǎi nà piān lùnwén, tā fèi le hěn duō shén.He put a lot of mental effort into revising that paper.
- 费神，。Zhège xiàngmù búyòng nín fèi shén, wǒ zìjǐ néng chǔlǐ.You don't need to bother yourself with this project; I can handle it myself.
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