焦躁

• Pinyin: jiāo zào
• Hanzi breakdown: 焦 = anxious, agitated; 躁 = 足 (foot) + 喿 — restless, unable to stay still

Meaning

Restless and irritable; agitated. A state of anxious impatience that makes one unable to stay calm.

Combines anxiety with restlessness and irritability. Describes someone who cannot sit still, is easily annoyed, and may snap at others. Often occurs when waiting for important news or when facing unresolved problems.

Examples

1. 长时间堵车让他变得焦躁不安。 Being stuck in traffic for a long time made him restless and irritable.
2. 孩子连续高烧不退，父母焦躁万分。 With the child's fever persisting, the parents were extremely agitated.
3. 她焦躁地翻来覆去，怎么也睡不着。 She tossed and turned restlessly, unable to fall asleep.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, everyday, psychology

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 他越等越焦躁。(The longer he waited, the more agitated he became.)
• 天气闷热让人焦躁。(The muggy weather makes people restless.)

Don't Say

• 用'焦躁'描述活泼好动 (Don't use 焦躁 for energetic or lively behavior — it implies negative restlessness; use 活泼 or 好动 for positive energy)

Origin & History

Composed of 焦 (anxious; agitated) + 躁 (restless; impatient). The combination describes restless anxiety.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal