Understanding psychological terms and vocabulary in Chinese is crucial for those interested in psychology or who are navigating mental health discussions in a Chinese-speaking context. Here, we explore some key terms that are essential for a basic understanding of psychological concepts in Mandarin Chinese.
心理学 (xīn lǐ xué) – Psychology
This term refers to the scientific study of the mind and behavior.
他正在学习心理学。
情绪 (qíng xù) – Emotion
This word is used to describe an individual’s feelings or mood.
她的情绪很不稳定。
压力 (yā lì) – Stress
Stress refers to a state of mental or emotional strain resulting from demanding circumstances.
工作给他带来了很大的压力。
焦虑 (jiāo lǜ) – Anxiety
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.
最近他常感到焦虑。
抑郁 (yì yù) – Depression
Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act.
她因为抑郁症正在接受治疗。
自尊 (zì zūn) – Self-esteem
Self-esteem is confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect.
自尊可以影响一个人的心理健康。
创伤 (chuāng shāng) – Trauma
Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.
那次车祸是他的一次心理创伤。
治疗 (zhì liáo) – Therapy
Therapy is the treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.
她每周都会去做心理治疗。
认知 (rèn zhī) – Cognition
Cognition refers to the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
认知功能障碍是一种常见的问题。
心理健康 (xīn lǐ jiàn kāng) – Mental health
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
保持良好的心理健康是很重要的。
适应 (shì yìng) – Adaptation
Adaptation in psychology refers to the process of adjusting to new conditions.
适应新环境需要时间。
冲突 (chōng tū) – Conflict
Conflict can be defined as a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one.
处理冲突的能力对心理健康至关重要。
动机 (dòng jī) – Motivation
Motivation is the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.
动机可以极大地影响人的行为。
人格 (rén gé) – Personality
Personality refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
每个人的人格都是独一无二的。
觉知 (jué zhī) – Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment.
练习觉知可以帮助减轻压力。
疏导 (shū dǎo) – Catharsis
Catharsis refers to the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
疏导情绪对于维持心理平衡是必要的。
同理心 (tóng lǐ xīn) – Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
同理心是建立良好人际关系的关键。
By familiarizing yourself with these psychological terms in Chinese, you can better engage in meaningful conversations about mental health and understand a broader range of psychological literature and discussions in Chinese contexts. This foundational vocabulary serves as a stepping stone for further exploration of psychology in a Mandarin-speaking environment.




