紧张

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jǐnzhāng: 紧张 - Nervous, Tense, Tight

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: jinzhang, jǐnzhāng, 紧张, nervous in Chinese, tense in Chinese, Chinese word for stress, tight schedule in Chinese, anxious Chinese, jinzhang vs danxin, Chinese HSK 3 word
  • Summary: The Chinese word 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) is a versatile term for beginners to learn, primarily meaning nervous, tense, or tight. It perfectly describes the emotional feeling of being nervous before a test, the social tension in a difficult conversation, or the practical pressure of a tight schedule or budget. Understanding 紧张 is key to expressing common feelings of stress and pressure in everyday Mandarin Chinese.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): jǐnzhāng
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • HSK Level: HSK 3
  • Concise Definition: To be nervous or anxious; to be in a state of tension or scarcity.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) as the feeling or state of being “stretched taut.” This can be your emotions before a speech (nervous), the atmosphere in a silent, angry room (tense), your schedule before a deadline (tight), or even the supply of goods during a crisis (strained, scarce). It's the go-to word for describing the physical and emotional response to pressure.

Character Breakdown

  • 紧 (jǐn): This character means “tight,” “taut,” or “close.” The radical 糸 (sī) means “silk thread,” evoking the image of a thread being pulled tight.
  • 张 (zhāng): This character means “to stretch open,” “to expand,” or “to draw a bow.” The radical is 弓 (gōng), which is a bow (as in a bow and arrow).
  • The combination of “tight” (紧) and “to stretch” (张) creates a vivid picture of being pulled in opposite directions or stretched to a limit, like a fully drawn bowstring. This powerful imagery perfectly encapsulates the feeling of tension, nervousness, and strain.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, which often places a high value on performance, academic success, and social harmony, situations causing a 紧张 feeling are very common. The immense pressure of the *高考 (gāokǎo)*, the national college entrance exam, is a classic example of a situation that is universally described as 紧张.
  • Comparison to “Anxiety”: While 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) can be translated as “anxious,” it differs from the Western clinical concept of “anxiety.” 紧张 is almost always situational and temporary. You feel 紧张 because of a specific, external event (an exam, an interview, a conflict). It's seen as a normal reaction. The English word “anxiety” can imply a more persistent, internal, and potentially pathological state. The Chinese word for that chronic condition is closer to `焦虑 (jiāolǜ)`. Therefore, saying “我很紧张 (Wǒ hěn jǐnzhāng)” is a very common and normal statement, whereas “I am very anxious” can carry a heavier weight in English.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Emotional State (Nervous/Anxious): This is the most common usage. It's used for feelings before any performance-based activity.
    • e.g., Before a job interview, a first date, giving a presentation, or taking an exam.
  • Situational State (Tense/Strained): It can describe the atmosphere or relationship between people or groups.
    • e.g., A tense meeting, a strained relationship (`关系很紧张`), or a tense international standoff.
  • Resource State (Tight/Scarce): This is a crucial non-emotional meaning that beginners must learn. It refers to a lack of time, money, or resources.
    • e.g., A tight schedule (`时间很紧张`), a tight budget (`预算很紧张`), or a strained supply of goods (`供应紧张`).

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 明天有考试，我现在非常紧张。
    • Pinyin: Míngtiān yǒu kǎoshì, wǒ xiànzài fēicháng jǐnzhāng.
    • English: I have a test tomorrow, I'm very nervous right now.
    • Analysis: This is the most classic use of 紧张, expressing the emotional state of nervousness due to an upcoming event.
  • Example 2:
    • 你别紧张，这只是一个简单的面试。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ bié jǐnzhāng, zhè zhǐshì yí ge jiǎndān de miànshì.
    • English: Don't be nervous, this is just a simple interview.
    • Analysis: Here, `别 (bié)` is used to tell someone not to do something. `别紧张` is a very common phrase to comfort someone.
  • Example 3:
    • 会议室里的气氛有点紧张。
    • Pinyin: Huìyìshì lǐ de qìfēn yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.
    • English: The atmosphere in the meeting room is a bit tense.
    • Analysis: This shows 紧张 used to describe a situation or atmosphere, not a person's direct feeling.
  • Example 4:
    • 最近工作太多，我的时间很紧张。
    • Pinyin: Zuìjìn gōngzuò tài duō, wǒ de shíjiān hěn jǐnzhāng.
    • English: I have too much work recently, my schedule is very tight.
    • Analysis: A perfect example of the “resource scarcity” meaning. It doesn't mean the schedule “feels nervous,” but that it is packed and there is no spare time.
  • Example 5:
    • 由于战争，两国的关系非常紧张。
    • Pinyin: Yóuyú zhànzhēng, liǎng guó de guānxì fēicháng jǐnzhāng.
    • English: Due to the war, the relationship between the two countries is very tense.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 紧张 in a formal, geopolitical context to mean “strained” or “tense.”
  • Example 6:
    • 我们公司的预算很紧张，所以不能买新的电脑。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de yùsuàn hěn jǐnzhāng, suǒyǐ bùnéng mǎi xīn de diànnǎo.
    • English: Our company's budget is very tight, so we can't buy new computers.
    • Analysis: Similar to the “tight schedule” example, this shows 紧张 being used for financial scarcity.
  • Example 7:
    • 看到警察，他紧张得说不出话来。
    • Pinyin: Kàndào jǐngchá, tā jǐnzhāng de shuō bu chū huà lái.
    • English: Seeing the police officer, he was so nervous he couldn't speak.
    • Analysis: The structure `[adjective] + 得 + [result]` shows the result of being nervous. This is a very useful grammar pattern.
  • Example 8:
    • 比赛的最后一分钟，所有观众都感到很紧张。
    • Pinyin: Bǐsài de zuìhòu yì fēnzhōng, suǒyǒu guānzhòng dōu gǎndào hěn jǐnzhāng.
    • English: In the final minute of the match, all the spectators felt very tense/excited.
    • Analysis: In a sports context, 紧张 can also carry a connotation of excitement or suspense, not just negative nervousness.
  • Example 9:
    • 他的肌肉很紧张，需要放松一下。
    • Pinyin: Tā de jīròu hěn jǐnzhāng, xūyào fàngsōng yíxià.
    • English: His muscles are very tense, he needs to relax a bit.
    • Analysis: This is a literal, physical usage of the word, meaning “tight” or “stiff.” Note the direct antonym, `放松 (fàngsōng)`, is used here.
  • Example 10:
    • 在大城市，住房供应很紧张。
    • Pinyin: Zài dà chéngshì, zhùfáng gōngyìng hěn jǐnzhāng.
    • English: In big cities, the housing supply is tight/strained.
    • Analysis: Another example of 紧张 describing resource scarcity on a large scale.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) vs. 担心 (dānxīn): This is the most common point of confusion.
    • 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) is the physical or emotional *feeling* of stress and tension. It's about your body's reaction. (e.g., sweating palms, fast heartbeat).
    • 担心 (dānxīn) is the mental *act* of worrying about a potential negative outcome. It's about your thoughts.
    • Correct: 我很紧张，因为我担心会迟到。(Wǒ hěn jǐnzhāng, yīnwèi wǒ dānxīn huì chídào.) - “I am nervous because I am worried I will be late.” You feel the tension (紧张) because of the thought/worry (担心).
  • False Friend: “Tight” Clothing: You cannot use 紧张 to describe clothes that are too small. For that, you use its root character, 紧 (jǐn).
    • Incorrect: 这条裤子很紧张。(Zhè tiáo kùzi hěn jǐnzhāng.)
    • Correct: 这条裤子太紧了。(Zhè tiáo kùzi tài jǐn le.) - “These pants are too tight.”

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 担心 (dānxīn) - To worry. The mental act that often causes the feeling of 紧张.
  • 害怕 (hàipà) - To be scared/afraid. Stronger than 紧张 and usually linked to a specific fear (e.g., afraid of spiders, afraid of the dark).
  • 压力 (yālì) - Pressure, stress. Often the external cause of the internal feeling of 紧张.
  • 放松 (fàngsōng) - To relax. The direct antonym of 紧张, both for emotions and for physical muscles.
  • 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) - Anxiety. A more formal, clinical, or chronic state of anxiety, as opposed to the situational feeling of 紧张.
  • 气氛 (qìfēn) - Atmosphere. An atmosphere can be described as 紧张.
  • 激烈 (jīliè) - Intense, fierce. Describes a competition or argument that would make participants feel 紧张.
  • 急 (jí) - Hurried, anxious, impatient. Describes a feeling of needing to do something quickly, a sense of urgency.