激素 en 30 secondes
- Hormone; chemical messenger in the body.
- Commonly used in medical and food safety contexts.
- Often associated with growth and emotional regulation.
- A key word for health-conscious shoppers in China.
The Chinese word 激素 (jīsù) is a technical yet commonly used noun that translates directly to 'hormone' in English. Etymologically, it is composed of two characters: 激 (jī), meaning 'to stimulate,' 'to excite,' or 'to surge,' and 素 (sù), meaning 'element,' 'factor,' or 'substance.' Together, they literally describe a 'stimulating substance.' In a biological context, 激素 refers to the chemical messengers produced by the endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream to various organs to regulate physiology and behavior. While it originated as a scientific term, its usage has permeated daily life in China, appearing in discussions about health, food safety, skincare, and emotional well-being.
- Biological Function
- In the human body, 激素 are responsible for managing growth, metabolism, reproduction, and mood. For example, insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar, and adrenaline is the hormone that triggers the fight-or-flight response.
人体内有很多种不同的激素，它们控制着我们的生长和代谢。(There are many different types of hormones in the human body; they control our growth and metabolism.)
Beyond biology, 激素 is frequently mentioned in the context of food safety in China. There is a widespread public concern regarding 'hormone-fed' livestock, particularly chickens and pigs. You will often hear people talk about 激素肉 (jīsù ròu) or 'hormone meat,' referring to the use of growth hormones in farming. Similarly, in the beauty industry, there is a phenomenon known as 激素脸 (jīsù liǎn) or 'hormone face,' which describes skin damage caused by the long-term use of skincare products illegally laced with glucocorticoids (steroids).
- Medical Context
- In hospitals, doctors use the term to discuss endocrine disorders (内分泌失调) or when prescribing steroid medications (激素类药物). Patients are often wary of these drugs due to potential side effects like weight gain.
长期服用这种激素药物可能会导致体重增加。(Long-term use of this hormonal medication may lead to weight gain.)
In summary, while the word is scientifically precise, it carries significant cultural weight in China related to health anxiety, dietary purity, and medical treatment. Understanding 激素 requires recognizing its dual role as a biological necessity and a potential environmental or medical concern.
- Daily Conversation
- You might hear a parent say, 'Don't eat too many chicken wings, they have too many hormones.' Or a teenager might complain about 'hormonal acne' (激素痘).
Using 激素 (jīsù) correctly involves understanding its role as a noun and how it interacts with specific verbs and adjectives. Because it is a substance, it is often paired with verbs of production, measurement, and influence. The most fundamental structure is [Subject] + 分泌 (fēnmbì - to secrete) + 激素.
- Common Verb Pairings
- 分泌 (fēnmì): To secrete. Example: 运动能促进多巴胺这种激素的分泌。(Exercise can promote the secretion of the hormone dopamine.)
- 调节 (tiáojié): To regulate. Example: 这种药物可以帮助调节体内的激素水平。(This medicine can help regulate hormone levels in the body.)
- 注射 (zhùshè): To inject. Example: 一些运动员非法注射生长激素。(Some athletes illegally inject growth hormones.)
医生建议她检查一下激素水平。(The doctor suggested she check her hormone levels.)
When describing the properties of 激素, you will often use adjectives like 正常的 (normal), 失调的 (imbalanced), or 过量的 (excessive). A very common medical phrase is 激素失调 (jīsù shītiáo), which means 'hormonal imbalance.' This is often used to explain symptoms like fatigue, skin issues, or emotional swings.
- Adjective Modifiers
- 激素类 (jīsù lèi): Hormonal (type). Often used with medications: 激素类药膏 (hormonal ointment).
- 天然激素 (tiānrán jīsù): Natural hormones.
- 人工合成激素 (réngōng héchéng jīsù): Synthetic hormones.
这种护肤品不含任何激素，非常安全。(This skincare product contains no hormones and is very safe.)
In more complex sentences, 激素 can be the subject that acts upon the body. For example, 'Hormones affect our mood' would be 激素影响我们的情绪 (Jīsù yǐngxiǎng wǒmen de qíngxù). It is important to note that in Chinese, 激素 is a mass noun; you don't typically use 'one hormone' or 'two hormones' unless you are specifying the *type* of hormone (e.g., 一种激素).
The word 激素 (jīsù) is pervasive across several domains of modern Chinese life. You will encounter it in news reports, medical consultations, supermarket aisles, and social media discussions. Understanding these contexts helps you grasp the nuances beyond the dictionary definition.
- 1. The Supermarket and Food Safety
- This is perhaps the most common 'casual' context. Consumers in China are very sensitive to food additives. Labels like '无激素' (hormone-free) or '不添加激素' (no hormones added) are major selling points for poultry and dairy products. You will hear shoppers asking, '这鸡肉里有激素吗？' (Does this chicken contain hormones?)
现在的家长都很担心孩子吃到含有激素的食品。(Parents nowadays are very worried about children eating food that contains hormones.)
- 2. Beauty and Skincare (XiaoHongShu/TikTok)
- On platforms like Little Red Book (Xiaohongshu), 激素 is a buzzword in skincare warnings. Influencers warn against '激素脸' (steroid-induced rosacea or dermatitis) caused by using unregulated 'miracle creams' that show instant results but damage the skin barrier long-term. They often say, '千万别用含有激素的劣质化妆品。' (Whatever you do, don't use low-quality cosmetics containing hormones.)
In medical settings, 激素 is used neutrally. A doctor might explain that a patient needs 激素替代疗法 (hormone replacement therapy). However, among the elderly, there is often a 'steroid phobia' (恐激素), where patients fear that any medicine containing 激素 will make them fat or dependent on the drug.
- 3. Science and Education
- In schools and documentaries, you'll hear about specific hormones like 生长激素 (growth hormone), 雌激素 (estrogen), and 雄激素 (androgen/testosterone). These are used in the context of puberty, aging, and biological research.
青春期时，体内的激素水平会发生剧烈变化。(During puberty, hormone levels in the body undergo drastic changes.)
Learning to use 激素 (jīsù) involves avoiding several common pitfalls, ranging from pronunciation errors to conceptual misunderstandings. Because the word sounds scientific, learners often hesitate to use it in daily speech, or they use it in contexts where another word would be more appropriate.
- 1. Confusing '激素' with '荷尔蒙'
- While they both mean 'hormone,' 激素 is the formal, scientific term. 荷尔蒙 (hé'ěrméng) is the transliteration. You should use 激素 for medicine and food safety. Use 荷尔蒙 when talking about attraction, romance, or 'manly/womanly' energy. Saying 'this medicine contains 荷尔蒙' sounds a bit strange and informal.
Mistake: 这个药里有很多
荷尔蒙。
Correction: 这个药里有很多激素。
- 2. Misidentifying the Type of Substance
- Learners sometimes confuse 激素 (jīsù) with 维生素 (wéishēngsù - vitamin) or 抗生素 (kàngshēngsù - antibiotic) because they all end in 素 (sù). Make sure to distinguish between 'stimulating elements' (hormones), 'life-maintaining elements' (vitamins), and 'anti-life elements' (antibiotics).
Another mistake is the assumption that 激素 is always 'bad.' Because of the food safety scandals mentioned earlier, many Chinese learners associate the word only with pollution or danger. Remember that 激素 are essential for life. Avoid saying 'I don't have any hormones' (我没有激素), which is biologically impossible. Instead, say 'My hormones are imbalanced' (我的激素失调了).
Incorrect: 医生说我需要补充
抗生素来调节心情。
Correct: 医生说我需要补充激素来调节心情。(Antibiotics don't regulate mood; hormones do.)
To speak Chinese naturally, you need to know when to use 激素 (jīsù) and when to opt for related terms. Here is a comparison of synonyms and closely related biological terms.
- 激素 (jīsù) vs. 荷尔蒙 (hé'ěrméng)
- 激素: Scientific, clinical, used for all types (insulin, steroids, growth).
荷尔蒙: Loanword, often implies sex hormones or emotional/instinctual drives. 'Walking hormone' (行走的荷尔蒙) is a slang term for a very attractive man.
- 激素 (jīsù) vs. 内分泌 (nèifēnmì)
- 激素: The substance itself (the hormone).
内分泌: The system/process (endocrine). People often say '内分泌失调' (endocrine imbalance) instead of '激素失调' in casual health talk.
熬夜会导致内分泌失调，进而影响激素水平。(Staying up late causes endocrine imbalance, which in turn affects hormone levels.)
- Specific Hormones
- 胰岛素 (yídǎosù): Insulin.
- 肾上腺素 (shènshàngxiànsù): Adrenaline/Epinephrine.
- 多巴胺 (duōbā'àn): Dopamine (often discussed as a hormone of happiness).
- 褪黑素 (tuìhēisù): Melatonin.
When talking about plant growth, scientists use 植物激素 (zhíwù jīsù) (plant hormones/phytohormones) to describe substances like auxin or ethylene. In the context of sports and bodybuilding, people might use the term 类固醇 (lèigùchún) for steroids, which is a specific chemical class of hormones.
How Formal Is It?
Le savais-tu ?
The character '激' (jī) contains the 'water' radical, suggesting a surge or spray, which fits the way hormones are released into the blood.
Guide de prononciation
- Pronouncing 'jī' as 'jǐ' (3rd tone), which sounds like 'to squeeze'.
- Pronouncing 'sù' as 'shù', which might sound like 'tree' (树).
- Confusing 'jīsù' with 'jīsù' (fast speed - 极速, though the tones are different 2nd and 4th).
Exemples par niveau
这个鸡肉没有激素。
This chicken meat does not have hormones.
Simple subject-object structure with '没有' (does not have).
激素让我们长大。
Hormones make us grow up.
Subject + 让 (let/make) + Object + Verb.
我不喜欢激素食品。
I don't like hormone food.
Using '激素' as a modifier for '食品' (food).
什么是激素？
What is a hormone?
Basic 'Subject + 是 + what' question.
医生，这是激素吗？
Doctor, is this a hormone?
Polite address + '这是...吗' question.
这种肉含激素。
This kind of meat contains hormones.
含 (hán) means 'to contain'.
激素很重要。
Hormones are very important.
Simple Subject + Adjective structure.
他吃了激素药。
He took hormone medicine.
Subject + Verb + Object.
为了健康，我们要少吃含激素的食物。
For health, we should eat less food containing hormones.
为了... (For the sake of...) structure.
这种护肤品里有激素吗？
Are there hormones in this skincare product?
...里有... (Inside there is...) structure.
运动可以产生快乐激素。
Exercise can produce happy hormones.
产生 (chǎnshēng) means 'to produce'.
医生说他的激素水平正常。
The doctor says his hormone levels are normal.
激素水平 (hormone levels) is a common noun phrase.
不要随便给孩子吃激素药。
Don't give children hormone medicine randomly.
随便 (suíbiàn) adds the meaning of 'carelessly' or 'randomly'.
这种激素会让植物长得更快。
This hormone will make plants grow faster.
长得更快 (grow faster) uses the 'de' complement.
她因为激素失调长了很多痘痘。
She got many pimples because of a hormonal imbalance.
因为... (because of) + Result.
我们要买不含激素的牛奶。
We need to buy hormone-free milk.
不含 (bù hán) is a formal way to say 'does not contain'.
长期压力会导致体内激素分泌紊乱。
Long-term stress can lead to disordered hormone secretion in the body.
导致 (dǎozhì) is used for negative results.
这种药虽然见效快，但是含有激素。
Although this medicine works quickly, it contains hormones.
虽然...但是... (Although... but...) structure.
处于青春期的青少年激素水平波动很大。
Teenagers in puberty have large fluctuations in hormone levels.
处于... (being in a state of) structure.
为了备孕，她正在接受激素治疗。
To prepare for pregnancy, she is undergoing hormone therapy.
接受...治疗 (receive treatment).
你知道肾上腺素也是一种激素吗？
Do you know that adrenaline is also a type of hormone?
Specific hormone name + 也是一种激素.
专家提醒不要过度依赖激素类药膏。
Experts warn not to over-rely on hormonal ointments.
依赖 (yīlài) means 'to depend on'.
良好的睡眠有助于调节激素平衡。
Good sleep helps regulate hormone balance.
有助于 (yǒuzhùyú) means 'is helpful for'.
这种化妆品被查出含有非法激素。
This cosmetic was found to contain illegal hormones.
被查出 (was found out/detected) passive structure.
胰岛素是调节血糖的重要激素。
Insulin is an important hormone for regulating blood sugar.
...是...的重要激素 (is an important hormone for...).
由于激素的作用，运动员在比赛中表现得更兴奋。
Due to the effect of hormones, athletes perform more excitedly in competitions.
由于...的作用 (Due to the effect of...).
环境污染可能会干扰人体的激素系统。
Environmental pollution may interfere with the human hormone system.
干扰 (gānrǎo) means 'to interfere/disturb'.
甲状腺激素对人体的新陈代谢至关重要。
Thyroid hormones are vital to the body's metabolism.
至关重要 (zhìguān zhòngyào) means 'crucial/vital'.
这种激素类药物的副作用包括向心性肥胖。
Side effects of this hormonal drug include central obesity.
Medical terminology: 向心性肥胖.
科学家们正在研究这种植物激素的合成方法。
Scientists are researching the synthesis method of this plant hormone.
合成方法 (synthesis method).
更年期女性常常面临雌激素水平下降的问题。
Menopausal women often face the problem of declining estrogen levels.
面临...的问题 (face the problem of...).
多巴胺被认为是一种能让人感到快乐的激素。
Dopamine is considered a hormone that can make people feel happy.
被认为 (is considered to be).
内分泌干扰物通过模拟激素诱发各种生理异常。
Endocrine disruptors induce various physiological abnormalities by mimicking hormones.
通过...诱发 (induce through...).
该研究探讨了应激激素与认知功能退化之间的联系。
The study explored the link between stress hormones and cognitive decline.
探讨...与...之间的联系 (explore the link between A and B).
激素受体的敏感度在不同个体之间存在显著差异。
The sensitivity of hormone receptors varies significantly between individuals.
存在显著差异 (exists significant difference).
这种激素的分泌受到下丘脑-垂体轴的严密调控。
The secretion of this hormone is tightly regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
受到...的严密调控 (receive tight regulation from...).
滥用生长激素在竞技体育界是一个严峻的伦理问题。
The abuse of growth hormones is a severe ethical issue in the world of competitive sports.
滥用 (abuse) as a subject.
糖皮质激素具有强大的抗炎作用，但也伴随着高风险。
Glucocorticoids have powerful anti-inflammatory effects but are accompanied by high risks.
具有...作用 (possess the effect of...).
我们需要从分子水平理解激素信号转导的机制。
We need to understand the mechanisms of hormone signal transduction at the molecular level.
从...水平理解 (understand from the level of...).
激素水平的细微波动就足以引发情绪的剧烈起伏。
Subtle fluctuations in hormone levels are enough to trigger intense emotional swings.
...就足以引发... (...is enough to trigger...).
激素的稳态调节是维持生命体内部环境恒定的核心机制。
Homeostatic regulation of hormones is the core mechanism for maintaining a constant internal environment in living organisms.
Formal scientific definition structure.
该论文详尽阐述了激素在细胞分化与凋亡过程中的复杂作用。
The paper elaborates on the complex roles of hormones in the processes of cell differentiation and apoptosis.
详尽阐述 (elaborate in detail).
环境雌激素的普遍存在对生态系统的长期稳定性构成了威胁。
The ubiquitous presence of environmental estrogens poses a threat to the long-term stability of ecosystems.
对...构成威胁 (pose a threat to...).
通过靶向激素受体，我们可以开发出更具选择性的抗癌药物。
By targeting hormone receptors, we can develop more selective anti-cancer drugs.
通过靶向... (By targeting...).
激素分泌的时钟节律与昼夜交替有着深刻的演化关联。
The circadian rhythm of hormone secretion has a profound evolutionary link with the alternation of day and night.
深刻的演化关联 (profound evolutionary link).
激素替代疗法的利弊权衡在医学界一直存在广泛争议。
The weighing of pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy has always been a subject of widespread controversy in the medical community.
利弊权衡 (weighing pros and cons).
这种新型激素类似物的合成标志着内分泌学研究的重大突破。
The synthesis of this new hormone analog marks a significant breakthrough in endocrinology research.
标志着...重大突破 (marks a major breakthrough).
激素不仅是生理调节剂，更是连接心理与生理状态的桥梁。
Hormones are not only physiological regulators but also bridges connecting psychological and physiological states.
不仅是...更是... (Not only... but also...).
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— Endocrine imbalance. Often used interchangeably with hormonal issues.
熬夜容易导致内分泌失调。
— Dopamine secretion. Often discussed in the context of happiness.
美食能促进多巴胺分泌。
— Adrenaline surge. Used for exciting or scary moments.
看恐怖片让我肾上腺素飙升。
— No hormones added. A common label on food packaging.
这种牛奶保证无激素添加。
— Hormone-dependent dermatitis. A serious skin condition.
她因为用错药得了激素性皮炎。
— Male hormones. Often used to discuss hair loss or muscle.
雄性激素过高可能导致脱发。
— Female hormones. Often used to discuss women's health.
豆浆含有植物雌性激素。
— Anti-inflammatory hormones. Usually refers to steroids.
医生给他开了抗炎激素。
— Hormonal regulation. A biological process.
身体有一套复杂的激素调节系统。
— Artificial hormones.
很多农产品使用了人造激素。
Expressions idiomatiques
— A 'walking hormone'; used to describe a very attractive, masculine man.
他简直就是行走的荷尔蒙。
Slang— A sudden burst of adrenaline.
在关键时刻，他肾上腺素爆发，救了人。
Common— Severe endocrine chaos; often used to describe someone's bad temper.
你最近是不是内分泌紊乱？脾气这么大。
Colloquial— Ripened by hormones (usually fruit or livestock).
这些草莓看起来是激素催熟的。
Common— Dopamine dressing; wearing bright colors to feel happy.
今年夏天很流行多巴胺穿搭。
Internet Slang— Hormone dependency.
长期用这种药会有激素依赖性。
Medical— Hormones racing; intense excitement.
赛车比赛让人激素狂飙。
Informal— Imbalance of male and female hormones.
这会导致身体发育异常。
Scientific— Insufficient growth hormone.
个子矮可能是因为生长激素不足。
Medical— Hormone bomb; something containing an extreme amount of hormones.
这种速成鸡简直是激素炸弹。
ColloquialFamille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Adjectifs
Apparenté
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'jī' as 'jeep' (fast/stimulating) and 'sù' as 'soup' (substance). A hormone is a stimulating soup in your blood.
Association visuelle
Imagine a tiny spark (激) inside a small bubble (素) traveling through a vein.
Word Web
Défi
Try to find three food items in a Chinese supermarket that say '无激素' on the label.
Origine du mot
The term was coined in the early 20th century as a translation for the Western biological concept of 'hormone'.
Sens originel : Stimulating element or factor.
Sino-Tibetan (Chinese Mandarin).Contexte culturel
Be careful when discussing someone's health; saying someone has '激素失调' can be sensitive as it implies they might be emotional or have skin issues.
In English, 'hormone' is often used jokingly ('it's just my hormones') or scientifically. In Chinese, it's more likely to be used in a conversation about food quality.
Summary
The word 激素 (jīsù) is essential for discussing health, medicine, and food safety. For example: '激素失调' means hormonal imbalance, a common explanation for health issues.
- Hormone; chemical messenger in the body.
- Commonly used in medical and food safety contexts.
- Often associated with growth and emotional regulation.
- A key word for health-conscious shoppers in China.
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扎针
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急性
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