精神

jīngshén / jīngshen
noun HSK 7-9 #763

Meanings

  1. 1 spirit; mind
  2. 2 essence; gist

Examples

HSK 1
Wǒmen yào xuéxí tā de jīngshén.
We should learn from his spirit.
HSK 5
Tā yǒu yī zhǒng yǒngbù fàngqì de jīngshén.
He has a never-give-up spirit.
HSK 5
Tuánduì jīngshén duì zhè jiā gōngsī hěn zhòngyào.
Team spirit matters a lot at this company.

Tips

mistakes
The second syllable carries a full second tone here. Said with a neutral second syllable, 精神 is a different word, an adjective meaning lively or full of energy.
usage
Covers both the abstract mind, opposed to 物质, and the guiding idea behind something, as in the spirit of a meeting or a policy. Also the first half of 精神病, mental illness.

Stroke Order

jīng
shén