jiāolǜzhèng: 焦虑症 - Anxiety Disorder

• Keywords: jiāolǜzhèng, 焦虑症, anxiety in Chinese, anxiety disorder in Chinese, Chinese mental health, what is jiaolv zheng, Chinese for anxiety, Mandarin anxiety disorder, HSK anxiety, Chinese culture mental illness, 压力, 抑郁症.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 焦虑症 (jiāolǜzhèng), the Chinese term for Anxiety Disorder. This page offers a complete guide for English speakers, breaking down the characters 焦, 虑, and 症, and exploring the huge cultural shift around mental health in modern China. Learn the crucial difference between feeling anxious (焦虑) and having a clinical disorder (焦虑症), see practical example sentences, and understand how pressures like the gāokǎo (高考) and nèijuǎn (内卷) contribute to anxiety in a way that is unique to Chinese society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiāolǜzhèng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: The word 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) is HSK 6. The suffix 症 (zhèng) makes it a specific medical term, which is essential knowledge for advanced learners discussing health.
• Concise Definition: A clinical anxiety disorder; a diagnosed medical condition of anxiety.
• In a Nutshell: This isn't just about feeling worried or nervous. 焦虑症 (jiāolǜzhèng) is the formal, medical term you would hear from a doctor. While you might feel 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) about an upcoming exam, you would be diagnosed with 焦虑症 (jiāolǜzhèng) if that anxiety becomes a chronic, debilitating condition. The character 症 (zhèng) is the key—it means “sickness” or “syndrome,” elevating the feeling to a diagnosis.

• 焦 (jiāo): This character's original meaning is “scorched,” “burnt,” or “charred.” It vividly depicts the feeling of being “burned out” or consumed by worry. The fire radical (灬) at the bottom reinforces this sense of heat and distress.
• 虑 (lǜ): This means “to worry,” “to be concerned,” or “to consider deeply.” It suggests a mind preoccupied with potential problems, unable to rest.
• 症 (zhèng): This character means “illness,” “disease,” or “syndrome.” It includes the “sickness” radical (疒), which is found in many characters related to medical conditions (e.g., 病 bìng - illness, 痛 tòng - pain). This character unambiguously marks the word as a medical diagnosis.

When combined, 焦虑症 (jiāolǜzhèng) literally translates to “scorched-worry-sickness,” a powerful and descriptive term for the all-consuming nature of a clinical anxiety disorder.

Historically, mental health in China was often stigmatized, viewed as a personal failing, or explained through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine as an imbalance of qi (气). Openly discussing feelings of anxiety was uncommon. However, modern China has seen a dramatic shift. Rapid urbanization, intense academic pressure (personified by the infamous 高考 (gāokǎo), the national college entrance exam), and a hyper-competitive job market have brought mental health to the forefront of public conversation. 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) is now a national buzzword. A key cultural difference from the West is the source of the anxiety. While Western anxiety is often framed around individualistic fears or existential dread, Chinese anxiety is frequently tied to collective and familial pressures. There is immense pressure to succeed for one's family, secure a good job, buy a house, and get married by a certain age. The modern concept of 内卷 (nèijuǎn), or “involution,” perfectly captures this feeling: a zero-sum game of internal competition where everyone feels they must work harder and harder just to stay in the same place. Therefore, discussing 焦虑症 in China is often linked to these tangible, societal pressures.

• Formal Clinical Use: This is the term's primary and most accurate meaning. It is used in hospitals, medical reports, and academic discussions about mental health.
  • e.g., 医生诊断我患有广泛性焦虑症。 (Yīshēng zhěnduàn wǒ huàn yǒu guǎngfàn xìng jiāolǜzhèng.) - The doctor diagnosed me with generalized anxiety disorder.
• Informal or Hyperbolic Use: As anxiety has become a common topic, people now use 焦虑症 more casually on social media or in conversation to describe intense, but not necessarily clinical, stress. This usage is hyperbolic, similar to saying “This traffic is giving me an ulcer” in English.
  • e.g., 看到这个月的账单，我感觉我的焦虑症要犯了。 (Kàndào zhège yuè de zhàngdān, wǒ gǎnjué wǒ de jiāolǜzhèng yào fàn le.) - Seeing this month's bills, I feel like my anxiety disorder is about to act up.

The connotation is almost always negative, but the informal usage can create a sense of shared struggle and dark humor among young people navigating modern life's pressures.

• Example 1:
  • 他因为工作压力太大，最后得了焦虑症。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi gōngzuò yālì tài dà, zuìhòu déle jiāolǜzhèng.
  • English: He developed an anxiety disorder because of too much work pressure.
  • Analysis: This is a straightforward, common use of the term, linking a cause (压力 - pressure) to the diagnosis.
• Example 2:
  • 治疗焦虑症需要结合药物和心理咨询。
  • Pinyin: Zhìliáo jiāolǜzhèng xūyào jiéhé yàowù hé xīnlǐ zīxún.
  • English: Treating an anxiety disorder requires a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the clinical context of the term, discussing methods of treatment.
• Example 3:
  • 很多学生在高考前都会有严重的焦虑情绪，但并不都是焦虑症。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō xuéshēng zài gāokǎo qián dūhuì yǒu yánzhòng de jiāolǜ qíngxù, dàn bìng bù dōu shì jiāolǜzhèng.
  • English: Many students experience severe anxiety before the gaokao, but it's not always an anxiety disorder.
  • Analysis: This is a perfect example highlighting the crucial nuance between the feeling (焦虑情绪) and the clinical disorder (焦虑症).
• Example 4:
  • 社交媒体有时候会加剧年轻人的焦虑症。
  • Pinyin: Shèjiāo méitǐ yǒushíhou huì jiājù niánqīng rén de jiāolǜzhèng.
  • English: Social media can sometimes exacerbate anxiety disorders in young people.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects the term to a very modern and relevant social issue.
• Example 5:
  • 如果你怀疑自己有焦虑症，应该尽快去看医生。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ huáiyí zìjǐ yǒu jiāolǜzhèng, yīnggāi jǐnkuài qù kàn yīshēng.
  • English: If you suspect you have an anxiety disorder, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides practical advice, using the term in a personal, health-oriented context.
• Example 6:
  • (Hyperbolic/Informal) 每天996，我感觉我快得焦虑症了。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān jiǔjiǔliù, wǒ gǎnjué wǒ kuài dé jiāolǜzhèng le.
  • English: Working 996 (9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) every day, I feel like I'm about to get an anxiety disorder.
  • Analysis: This shows the informal, slightly humorous exaggeration common among young professionals in China complaining about intense work culture.
• Example 7:
  • 他同时与焦虑症和抑郁症作斗争。
  • Pinyin: Tā tóngshí yǔ jiāolǜzhèng hé yìyùzhèng zuò dòuzhēng.
  • English: He is battling both an anxiety disorder and depression at the same time.
  • Analysis: This shows how 焦虑症 is often discussed alongside other mental health conditions like 抑郁症 (yìyùzhèng).
• Example 8:
  • 这本书是关于如何应对焦虑症的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū shì guānyú rúhé yìngduì jiāolǜzhèng de.
  • English: This book is about how to cope with an anxiety disorder.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence structure you might see in a bookstore or library.
• Example 9:
  • 关爱有焦虑症的人，请多给他们一些理解和支持。
  • Pinyin: Guān'ài yǒu jiāolǜzhèng de rén, qǐng duō gěi tāmen yīxiē lǐjiě hé zhīchí.
  • English: For people with anxiety disorders, please give them more understanding and support.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the term's use in public service announcements or awareness campaigns.
• Example 10:
  • 她的焦虑症症状包括心悸和失眠。
  • Pinyin: Tā de jiāolǜzhèng zhèngzhuàng bāokuò xīnjì hé shīmián.
  • English: Her anxiety disorder symptoms include heart palpitations and insomnia.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the term in a very specific, descriptive medical context, listing symptoms (症状).

• `焦虑` (jiāolǜ) vs. `焦虑症` (jiāolǜzhèng): This is the most critical distinction for any learner.
  • 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) is an emotion or a state. It's the feeling of being anxious. (e.g., 我很焦虑 - I am very anxious.)
  • 焦虑症 (jiāolǜzhèng) is a medical diagnosis. It's the condition of having an anxiety disorder. (e.g., 他有焦虑症 - He has an anxiety disorder.)
  • Incorrect Usage: “我明天要面试，所以我有了焦虑症。” (Wǒ míngtiān yào miànshì, suǒyǐ wǒ yǒule jiāolǜzhèng.) - “I have an interview tomorrow, so I got an anxiety disorder.”
  • Correct Usage: “我为明天的面试感到很焦虑。” (Wǒ wèi míngtiān de miànshì gǎndào hěn jiāolǜ.) - “I feel very anxious about tomorrow's interview.”
• `担心` (dānxīn) vs. `焦虑` (jiāolǜ):
  • 担心 (dānxīn) is “to worry.” It's usually directed at a specific, concrete problem. (e.g., 我担心会下雨 - I'm worried it will rain.)
  • 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) is a deeper, more pervasive sense of “anxiety” or “dread” that may not have a clear, single cause. It describes an internal state more than a reaction to one event.

• 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) - The core emotion of anxiety or anxiousness. 焦虑症 is the disorder derived from this feeling.
• 抑郁症 (yìyùzhèng) - Depression (major depressive disorder). Frequently discussed alongside 焦虑症 as they are often co-morbid.
• 压力 (yālì) - Stress; pressure. Often cited as a primary cause or trigger for anxiety.
• 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) - Nervous; tense. Describes the physical or short-term feeling of anxiety, like before a performance. It's less severe and chronic than 焦虑.
• 担心 (dānxīn) - To worry. A more common, less intense word for worrying about a specific outcome.
• 心理健康 (xīnlǐ jiànkāng) - Mental health. The broad field to which 焦虑症 belongs.
• 内卷 (nèijuǎn) - “Involution.” A crucial modern buzzword describing the hyper-competitive, high-pressure social environment in China that is seen as a major source of collective anxiety.
• 失眠 (shīmián) - Insomnia. A very common symptom of 焦虑症.