shén jīng
nerve; nervous
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我的神经系统出了问题。
Wǒ de shénjīng xìtǒng chūle wèntí.
I have a problem with my nervous system.
他很紧张，神经兮兮的。
Tā hěn jǐnzhāng, shénjīng xī xī de.
He is very nervous and jumpy.
不要紧张，放松你的神经。
Bùyào jǐnzhāng, fàngsōng nǐ de shénjīng.
Don't be nervous, relax your nerves.
神经系统 (shénjīng xìtǒng)
nervous system
神经元 (shénjīng yuán)
neuron
The Chinese word 神经 (shénjīng) for "nerve" is a compound of two characters: 神 (shén), meaning "spirit" or "deity," and 经 (jīng), meaning "channel" or "pathway." Together, these characters suggest the idea of a spiritual or divine pathway through which messages are transmitted. This etymology reflects the traditional Chinese belief that the body is a microcosm of the universe, with channels of energy flowing through it that connect the physical and spiritual realms. In modern Chinese, 神经 is used in both its literal sense to refer to the nerves of the body, as well as in a figurative sense to refer to someone who is easily agitated or excitable, or who is considered to be "high-strung."
