adjective / verb HSK 5
Traditional 焦慮
anxious · worried · anxiety · to feel anxious
Meaning
焦虑 describes a state of worry, nervousness, or unease about something uncertain or future events. It can refer to both the emotional state (feeling anxious) and the psychological condition (anxiety). The word carries a stronger sense of persistent worry than simple concern.
Usage
Commonly used in both medical/psychological contexts and everyday conversation to describe worry or stress. Often appears with intensifiers like 很 (very) or 有点 (a bit). In modern Chinese, it's frequently used to discuss mental health, academic pressure, or work-related stress.
Examples
- 01考试前她总是感到很焦虑。.She always feels very anxious before exams.
- 02不要太焦虑，事情会好起来的。, .Don't be too anxious, things will get better.
Characters
Common collocations
- 焦虑症anxiety disorder
- 感到焦虑to feel anxious
- 缓解焦虑to relieve anxiety
- 焦虑不安anxious and restless
Antonyms
Origin
焦 originally meant 'scorched' or 'burned,' suggesting the burning feeling of distress. Combined with 虑 (worry/concern), it creates an image of intense, consuming worry.