jǐnzhāng: 紧张 - Nervous, Tense, Tight

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• Summary: Learn how to use 紧张 (jǐnzhāng), one of the most common and versatile adjectives in Mandarin Chinese. This page explains its core meaning of “nervous,” “tense,” or “tight,” covering everything from pre-exam jitters and strained relationships to a tight budget. Discover the cultural context of 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) in China's high-pressure society and master its use with practical examples, common mistakes, and related terms.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jǐnzhāng
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To be nervous or anxious; to be in a state of tension, scarcity, or strain.
• In a Nutshell: 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) is the go-to word for describing the feeling of butterflies in your stomach before a test, an interview, or a first date. Beyond personal feelings, it's also used to describe situations that are “tense” or “strained,” like a quiet argument or a tight deadline. Think of it as the feeling or state of being stretched thin, whether emotionally, physically, or in terms of resources.

• 紧 (jǐn): This character often means “tight,” “close,” or “urgent.” Its radical 糸 (mì) means “silk.” You can picture silk threads being pulled taut, creating tension.
• 张 (zhāng): This character means “to stretch,” “to open,” or “a sheet of (something).” It contains the radical for “bow” (弓 gōng), evoking the image of drawing a bowstring, stretching it tight before releasing an arrow.
• Together, 紧 (tight) + 张 (stretch) create a powerful and intuitive image: being pulled tight and stretched out. This perfectly captures the physical and emotional sensation of being 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) – nervous, tense, and strained.

In Chinese culture, particularly in the context of education and career, 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) is an ever-present concept. The immense pressure of exams like the infamous 高考 (gāokǎo) (college entrance exam) creates a shared national experience of intense 紧张. This term is therefore deeply understood not just as a personal feeling but as a collective societal pressure. A key difference from the English word “nervous” is that 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) is almost exclusively associated with negative pressure or anxiety. In English, one might say, “I'm so nervous for the concert, I can't wait!” implying a kind of thrilled anticipation. Using 紧张 in this context in Chinese would be inappropriate; it would only convey anxiety and worry, not excitement. The Chinese word for that kind of positive excitement is 兴奋 (xīngfèn). 紧张 is about the strain, not the thrill.

紧张 is an extremely common word used in various aspects of daily life.

• Expressing Personal Feelings: This is the most common use for learners. You can use it to describe your feelings before any stressful event.
  • e.g., “I'm a little nervous.” (我有点儿紧张。)
• Describing a Tense Atmosphere or Relationship: It can describe interpersonal dynamics or the “vibe” in a room.
  • e.g., “The atmosphere in the meeting was very tense.” (会议的气氛很紧张。)
  • e.g., “Their relationship has become strained recently.” (他们最近关系很紧张。)
• Describing Scarcity (Time, Money, Resources): This is a crucial meaning that extends beyond emotions. It means that something is “tight.”
  • e.g., “Time is tight.” (时间很紧张。)
  • e.g., “Our budget is very tight this month.” (我们这个月的预算很紧张。)

The connotation is almost always neutral to negative. It describes a state of stress or scarcity that one would typically want to resolve or escape from.

• Example 1:
  • 明天有考试，我感到很紧张。
  • Pinyin: Míngtiān yǒu kǎoshì, wǒ gǎndào hěn jǐnzhāng.
  • English: I have a test tomorrow, I feel very nervous.
  • Analysis: This is the most classic and straightforward use of 紧张 to describe personal anxiety about 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 yī 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 of reassurance.
• Example 3:
  • 会议室里的气氛突然变得紧张起来。
  • Pinyin: Huìyìshì lǐ de qìfēn tūrán biànde jǐnzhāng qǐlái.
  • English: The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly became tense.
  • Analysis: This shows 紧张 describing an external situation (气氛 - qìfēn - atmosphere), not just a person's internal feeling.
• Example 4:
  • 最近因为工作，我们夫妻之间的关系有点紧张。
  • Pinyin: Zuìjìn yīnwèi gōngzuò, wǒmen fūqī zhījiān de guānxi yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.
  • English: Recently, due to work, the relationship between my husband and I has been a bit strained.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of 紧张 being used to mean “strained” in the context of interpersonal relationships (关系 - guānxi).
• Example 5:
  • 项目的截止日期快到了，时间非常紧张。
  • Pinyin: Xiàngmù de jiézhǐ rìqī kuài dào le, shíjiān fēicháng jǐnzhāng.
  • English: The project's deadline is approaching, time is very tight.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the “scarcity” meaning. “Time is tight” is a direct and common translation for 时间很紧张 (shíjiān hěn jǐnzhāng).
• Example 6:
  • 由于资金紧张，公司不得不取消了年会。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú zījīn jǐnzhāng, gōngsī bùdébù qǔxiāo le niánhuì.
  • English: Due to a tight budget (lit: tight funds), the company had to cancel the annual party.
  • Analysis: Another “scarcity” example, this time applied to money/funds (资金 - zījīn).
• Example 7:
  • 第一次上台演讲，他紧张得说不出话来。
  • Pinyin: Dì-yī cì shàngtái yǎnjiǎng, tā jǐnzhāng de shuō bù chū huà lái.
  • English: The first time he went on stage to give a speech, he was so nervous he couldn't speak.
  • Analysis: The structure “adjective + 得 (de) + result” is used to describe the extent of the feeling. His nervousness resulted in being speechless.
• Example 8:
  • 看到警察，那个小偷显得很紧张。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào jǐngchá, nàge xiǎotōu xiǎnde hěn jǐnzhāng.
  • English: Upon seeing the police officer, the thief appeared very nervous.
  • Analysis: 显得 (xiǎnde) means “to appear” or “to seem,” useful for describing how someone comes across to others.
• Example 9:
  • 这部电影的情节非常紧张，我一直很投入。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de qíngjié fēicháng jǐnzhāng, wǒ yīzhí hěn tóurù.
  • English: The plot of this movie is very tense/suspenseful, I was engrossed the whole time.
  • Analysis: In a narrative context (like a movie or book), 紧张 is the perfect word for “tense” or “suspenseful.”
• Example 10:
  • 长时间看电脑后，我的肩膀肌肉很紧张。
  • Pinyin: Cháng shíjiān kàn diànnǎo hòu, wǒ de jiānbǎng jīròu hěn jǐnzhāng.
  • English: After looking at the computer for a long time, my shoulder muscles are very tense/tight.
  • Analysis: This shows the literal, physical meaning of 紧张: muscular tension.

• Mistake 1: Confusing “Nervous” with “Worried”.
  • English speakers often use “nervous” and “worried” interchangeably. In Chinese, they are distinct.
  • 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) is the physical and mental feeling of stress, often immediate. (e.g., “My heart is pounding, I'm so nervous.”)
  • 担心 (dānxīn) is the mental act of worrying about a potential negative outcome, which can last for a long time. (e.g., “I'm worried about his health.”)
  • Incorrect: 我很紧张他的身体。 (Wǒ hěn jǐnzhāng tā de shēntǐ.)
  • Correct: 我很担心他的身体。 (Wǒ hěn dānxīn tā de shēntǐ. - I'm very worried about his health.)
• Mistake 2: Using 紧张 for positive excitement.
  • As mentioned in the cultural section, 紧张 does not mean “excited.” Using it this way will cause confusion.
  • Incorrect: 我要去度假了，我很紧张！ (Wǒ yào qù dùjià le, wǒ hěn jǐnzhāng! - Implies you are anxious and stressed about the vacation.)
  • Correct: 我要去度假了，我很兴奋！ (Wǒ yào qù dùjià le, wǒ hěn xīngfèn! - I'm going on vacation, I'm so excited!)
• Mistake 3: Forgetting the “tight/scarce” meaning.
  • Learners often master the “nervous” meaning but forget that 紧张 is essential for talking about tight schedules, budgets, or strained situations. Don't limit the word to just feelings.

• 担心 (dānxīn) - To worry. This is a purely mental state about a potential problem, whereas 紧张 is a psychophysical reaction to immediate pressure.
• 害怕 (hàipà) - To be scared, afraid. This implies fear of a specific danger, which is stronger than the general anxiety of 紧张. You are 害怕 a snake, but 紧张 for a presentation.
• 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) - Anxiety, anxious. A more formal or clinical term, often describing a chronic condition rather than a temporary state.
• 压力 (yālì) - Pressure, stress. This is often the cause of the feeling of 紧张. (e.g., 学习压力很大，所以他很紧张 - Xuéxí yālì hěn dà, suǒyǐ tā hěn jǐnzhāng - The academic pressure is high, so he is very nervous.)
• 放松 (fàngsōng) - To relax. The direct antonym of 紧张.
• 激烈 (jīliè) - Intense, fierce. Often used to describe a competition or argument that would make people feel 紧张.
• 着急 (zháojí) - To be worried, anxious, often with a sense of impatience or urgency to solve a problem. It's more active than 紧张.
• 气氛 (qìfēn) - Atmosphere. A noun that is very frequently described using the adjective 紧张.