紧张 jǐnzhāng nervous
nervous; tension; strain
How to remember 紧张: 紧 tight + 张 stretch = nervous.
Characters
How it is used
- Two senses: 'nervous/tense' (of a person) - 面试前很紧张 (miànshì qián hěn jǐnzhāng) nervous before the interview; and 'tight/in short supply/tense' (of a situation) - 时间很紧张 (shíjiān hěn jǐnzhāng) time is tight.
- Antonym 放松 (fàngsōng, relax) for the feeling. Also 关系紧张 (guānxì jǐnzhāng) strained relations - 放松一下 (fàngsōng yíxià) relax a little.
- Very common everyday emotion word; broader than English 'nervous' since it also covers scarce resources and strained conditions.
Example sentences
- 放松，别紧张。 Fàngsōng, bié jǐnzhāng.Relax, don't be nervous.
- 他考试前很紧张。 Tā kǎoshì qián hěn jǐnzhāng.He was very nervous before the examination.
- 他的笑话缓和了紧张的气氛。 Tāde xiàohuà huǎnhé le jǐnzhāng de qìfēn.His jokes eased the tense atmosphere.