身心

• Pinyin: shēn xīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 身 = pictograph of a body; 心 = pictograph of the heart (mind)

Meaning

Body and mind together; one's physical and mental state as a whole; the holistic self encompassing both physical health and psychological well-being.

Frequently appears in health, wellness, education, and psychology contexts. Common collocations: 身心健康 (physical and mental health), 身心俱疲 (physically and mentally exhausted), 身心发展 (physical and mental development).

Examples

1. 长期的高压工作使他身心俱疲，医生建议他放下工作好好休息一段时间。 Years of high-pressure work left him exhausted in both body and mind, and the doctor advised him to put work aside and rest for a while.
2. 瑜伽不仅锻炼身体，还能有效调节情绪，达到身心平衡的状态。 Yoga not only strengthens the body; it can also effectively regulate emotions and help you reach a balanced state of mind and body.
3. 儿童早期教育应注重身心的全面健康发展，而不仅仅是知识积累。 Early childhood education should focus on healthy development of both body and mind, not just accumulating knowledge.

Usage Guide

Context: health, wellness, education, psychology

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这项计划旨在帮助员工实现身心健康，提高整体工作满意度。(This programme aims to help employees achieve physical and mental well-being, improving overall job satisfaction.)
• 定期接触自然环境对人的身心恢复有显著的积极效果。(Regular exposure to natural environments has a notably positive effect on human physical and mental restoration.)

Don't Say

• 身心很好 as a simple greeting — 身心 implies a deeper holistic assessment; for everyday health enquiries use 身体好吗 instead

Origin & History

身 (body) + 心 (mind, heart)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal