绪 xù mental state
mental state; thread
How to remember 绪: 纟 thread + 者 specialist = mental state. Pulling at a loose thread on her sleeve, the patient tells the specialist about her week, and he asks gently about her mental state.
Component breakdown
绪 = 纟 thread + 者 specialist
- 纟 thread
- 者 specialist
Pulling at a loose thread on her sleeve, the patient tells the specialist about her week, and he asks gently about her mental state.
How it is used
- 绪 is bound and abstract, built from 纟 (thread) - it means a strand or state of mind that's hard to pin down.
- 情绪 qíngxù is the everyday word for 'mood/emotions': 他情绪不好 (tā qíngxù bù hǎo) - he's in a bad mood; it's more neutral than 心情 xīnqíng, which leans toward a passing feeling.
- 思绪 sīxù is a literary word for 'train of thought,' used when writing or narrating, not in casual speech.
- 就绪 jiùxù means 'all set, ready to go' and appears mainly in formal or technical contexts, e.g. 准备就绪 (zhǔnbèi jiùxù) - everything is in place.