起劲

• Pinyin: qǐ jìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 起 = 走 + 己 (raise/start); 劲 = 工 (work) + 力 (force) (strength/vigour)

Meaning

Enthusiastic; energetic; vigorous; working with great gusto and drive.

Informal to neutral register. Often describes working, studying, or engaging in activities with high energy and enthusiasm. Contrasts with 懒散 (lazy/listless). Can be used positively or with mild irony when someone is overdoing it.

Examples

1. 他工作起来特别起劲，经常主动加班，丝毫不觉疲倦，令同事钦佩。 When he works, he’s especially driven—often volunteering to stay late without feeling tired at all—and his coworkers admire him.
2. 孩子们在操场上玩得起劲，嬉笑声传遍了整个校园的每一个角落。 The kids played with great enthusiasm on the playground, and their laughter spread to every corner of the campus.
3. 只要谈到自己的研究方向，她立刻来了精神，侃侃而谈，说得格外起劲。 As soon as her research topic came up, she lit up and spoke at length with real enthusiasm.

Usage Guide

Context: work, study, activity

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 他在新岗位上干得格外起劲，短短三个月便获得了领导团队的高度肯定。(He worked with exceptional enthusiasm in his new post and received high praise from the leadership team in just three months.)
• 一旦进入创作状态，她就格外起劲，有时一口气写作数小时也不肯停歇。(Once she enters a creative state, she works with extraordinary vigour, sometimes writing for hours without stopping.)

Don't Say

• 我起劲地睡觉 — 起劲 implies active, energetic engagement; it is inappropriate for passive states; use 睡得很香 for sleeping soundly

Origin & History

起 (to raise/start) + 劲 (energy/vigour) — to raise one's energy; to work with full vigour

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal