神经

• Pinyin: shén jīng
• Hanzi breakdown: 神 = 礻(spirit) + 申 (extend); 经 = 纟(silk) + 巠 (pathway)

Meaning

Nerve; nerves; neurotic; crazy (colloquial).

Medically refers to the nerve system (神经系统). Colloquially, 神经 or 神经病 describes someone acting crazy, weird, or irrational — though 神经病 can be offensive. Common in expressions about being nervous (紧张神经) or insensitive (神经大条).

Examples

1. 长期压力会损害神经系统的健康。 Long-term stress can damage the health of the nervous system.
2. 你神经吧？大半夜的突然唱歌。 Are you crazy? Suddenly singing in the middle of the night.
3. 他神经比较大条，什么事都不往心里去。 He's pretty thick-skinned and doesn't take anything to heart.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, colloquial, teasing

Tone: varies

Do Say

• 他的神经系统很健康。(His nervous system is very healthy.)
• 别神经兮兮的。(Don't be so weird.)

Don't Say

• 你是神经病 to strangers — very offensive; sounds like calling someone mentally ill, not just 'crazy'

Origin & History

Modern medical term from 神 (spirit) + 经 (channel/pathway), describing the pathways of vital energy or signals in the body.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal