情结 qíngjié complex (psychology)
How to remember 情结: 情 feeling + 结 tie up = complex (psychology).
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How it is used
- A psychological complex - a fixed emotional attachment or hang-up - 恋母情结 (liànmǔ qíngjié) an Oedipus/mother complex, 故乡情结 (gùxiāng qíngjié) a deep attachment to one's homeland.
- The 结 (knot) captures a persistent emotional tie you can't untie; used for both clinical complexes and fond fixations.
- Neutral-to-affectionate in casual use (a soft spot), clinical in psychology.