心神不定 vividly captures the feeling of inner turmoil and mental distraction caused by worry or anxiety.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Describes a state of restlessness, anxiety, and distractedness.
- Often used when facing uncertainty or significant events.
- Implies an inability to focus due to inner turmoil.
Overview
心神不定是一个常用的汉语成语，字面意思是“心和精神不安定”。它生动地描绘了一个人内心烦躁、思绪不宁、无法集中注意力的状态。这种不安通常源于担忧、焦虑、恐惧或某种期待，导致个体感到坐立不安，精神涣散。这个成语在日常交流和文学作品中都非常常见，用以表达一种内在的情绪波动和精神困扰。它强调的是一种主观的心理感受，而非客观的身体不适。
心神不定通常用作谓语或定语。作为谓语时，它直接描述主语的状态，例如“他最近一直心神不定”。作为定语时，它修饰名词，如“她带着心神不定的神情离开了”。这个成语也可以与副词如“总是”、“显得”、“有些”等搭配使用，以增强语气的表达。例如，“考试前夕，同学们都显得心神不定。”它不常用于修饰具体动作，而是描述一种持续的情绪或精神状态。
心神不定常出现在以下情境中：
**身体不适或生病时**: 身体上的不适有时也会导致精神上的不安。
这个成语能够准确捕捉到人在这些特定情境下的心理活动。
**坐立不安 (zuò lì bù ān)**
强调的是身体上的不安表现，如坐不住、站不稳，通常是内心焦虑的外在体现。心神不定更侧重于内心的精神状态，而坐立不安则更侧重于这种状态导致的行为表现。可以说，心神不定可能导致坐立不安。
**心烦意乱 (xīn fán yì luàn)**
与心神不定非常接近，都指心情烦躁、思绪混乱。心烦意乱更强调“烦”和“乱”，即心情烦闷，思绪杂乱无章。心神不定则更强调“不定”，即精神无法集中，心绪飘忽。两者常可互换使用，但心烦意乱可能更侧重于情绪的负面感受，而心神不定则侧重于精神的涣散。
**忐忑不安 (tǎn tè bù ān)**
侧重于因担心或害怕而感到不安，带有强烈的不确定性和预期的紧张感。心神不定则是一个更广义的词，可以指任何原因导致的精神不安，不一定包含“害怕”的成分。忐忑不安是心神不定的一种具体表现。
Examples
考试前夜，小明总是心神不定，翻来覆去睡不着。
everydayThe night before the exam, Xiao Ming was always restless and couldn't sleep.
面对如此重大的变故，他心神不定，难以做出明智的抉择。
formalFaced with such a significant change, he was agitated and found it difficult to make a wise decision.
哎呀，我今天一整天都心神不定，老是想着那件事。
informalOh, I've been restless all day today, constantly thinking about that matter.
研究表明，长时间的压力会导致个体心神不定，进而影响认知功能。
academicResearch indicates that prolonged stress can lead to mental agitation in individuals, subsequently impacting cognitive function.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
心里感到心神不定
feel restless in one's heart
他最近总是心神不定
He's been restless lately
心神不定地等待
to wait restlessly
Often Confused With
"坐立不安" emphasizes the physical inability to sit or stand still due to anxiety, whereas "心神不定" focuses on the internal mental state of restlessness and distraction. One might be "心神不定" and thus "坐立不安".
While very similar, "心烦意乱" specifically highlights the feeling of annoyance and chaotic thoughts. "心神不定" is broader, referring to any mental instability or inability to focus due to worry, not necessarily implying "annoyance."
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
心神不定 is a neutral idiom that can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It describes an internal psychological state, making it suitable for expressing a character's emotional turmoil in literature or for personal reflection. It's generally appropriate for all registers when describing anxiety or distraction.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to use "心神不定" to describe purely physical restlessness without any underlying mental agitation. Another error is to use it for simple boredom or lack of interest; it specifically implies worry or anxiety. Ensure the context truly reflects an internal state of mental instability.
Tips
Understand Inner Turmoil
This idiom precisely describes a state of mental unrest and distraction. It's useful for conveying deep emotional states.
Avoid Misuse with Physical Restlessness
While often accompanied by physical restlessness, "心神不定" primarily refers to the mind's state. Don't confuse it directly with purely physical discomfort.
Cultural Nuance of Emotional Expression
In Chinese culture, direct expression of anxiety might be less common. Idioms like "心神不定" provide a nuanced way to describe inner emotional struggles.
Word Origin
The idiom "心神不定" is composed of "心" (heart/mind), "神" (spirit/consciousness), and "不定" (unstable/not fixed). It literally means "mind and spirit are not stable," directly conveying the sense of restlessness and agitation. It's a descriptive idiom rather than one with a specific historical origin story.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, maintaining inner peace and composure (心平气和) is often valued. "心神不定" describes a state contrary to this ideal, highlighting a moment of vulnerability or emotional struggle. It's a common idiom used to express a universal human experience of anxiety.
Memory Tip
Imagine your "heart" (心) and "spirit" (神) are like two restless children, constantly moving and "not fixed" (不定). This imagery helps recall the meaning of an agitated and unfocused mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“心神不定”主要描述的是内心的精神状态，指思想不集中、心绪烦乱。而“坐立不安”则更多指身体上的表现，因为内心焦虑而无法安静地坐下或站立。通常，心神不定是内在原因，坐立不安是外在表现。
这个成语适用于描述一个人在面临考试、面试、等待重要消息、遇到困难或感情困扰时，内心感到焦虑、烦躁、无法集中的状态。它既可用于口语，也可用于书面语。
“心神不定”是一个中性词，它只是客观地描述一种精神状态，不带有明显的褒贬色彩。虽然这种状态通常是不愉快的，但词语本身没有贬低或赞扬的意味。
例如：“考试前夜，他总是心神不定，难以入睡。” 或者 “听到这个坏消息后，她一直心神不定，什么事都做不好。”
Test Yourself
听了医生的话，她开始对自己的病情感到____，整晚都睡不着。
句中描述的是对病情感到担忧，导致睡不着，这符合“心神不定”所表达的焦虑、不安的状态。
“心神不定”通常用于描述因担忧、焦虑而无法集中的精神状态，选项B“面对即将到来的挑战”符合这种语境。A和C的用法不自然，D则不符合成语原意。
(请用“心神不定”造句)
这个句子准确地表达了在等待重要消息时，人因焦虑而产生的精神不安和无法集中的状态。
Score: /3
Summary
心神不定 vividly captures the feeling of inner turmoil and mental distraction caused by worry or anxiety.
- Describes a state of restlessness, anxiety, and distractedness.
- Often used when facing uncertainty or significant events.
- Implies an inability to focus due to inner turmoil.
Understand Inner Turmoil
This idiom precisely describes a state of mental unrest and distraction. It's useful for conveying deep emotional states.
Avoid Misuse with Physical Restlessness
While often accompanied by physical restlessness, "心神不定" primarily refers to the mind's state. Don't confuse it directly with purely physical discomfort.
Cultural Nuance of Emotional Expression
In Chinese culture, direct expression of anxiety might be less common. Idioms like "心神不定" provide a nuanced way to describe inner emotional struggles.
Examples
4 of 4考试前夜，小明总是心神不定，翻来覆去睡不着。
The night before the exam, Xiao Ming was always restless and couldn't sleep.
面对如此重大的变故，他心神不定，难以做出明智的抉择。
Faced with such a significant change, he was agitated and found it difficult to make a wise decision.
哎呀，我今天一整天都心神不定，老是想着那件事。
Oh, I've been restless all day today, constantly thinking about that matter.
研究表明，长时间的压力会导致个体心神不定，进而影响认知功能。
Research indicates that prolonged stress can lead to mental agitation in individuals, subsequently impacting cognitive function.
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A2Acceptingly; receptively.
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