分心
fēnxīn
The English word 'distracted' is translated into Chinese as 分心 (fēnxīn).
分心 is used to describe having one's attention diverted or being preoccupied. You can use it transitively in the structure 让人分心 (ràng rén fēnxīn) to mean 'to make someone distracted' or 'to be distracting to someone'.
Meaning: having one's attention diverted, preoccupied (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 分 (fēn), meaning 'to divide' or 'to split' and 心 (xīn), meaning 'heart' or 'mind'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate that someone has become distracted (a change of state from being focused), you can add the particle 了 after the word to form 分心了.
How do you pronounce it?
fēnxīn
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, the 心 (heart) is historically viewed as the seat of both emotion and intellect. This is why 'distracted' is expressed as splitting the heart rather than losing focus in the brain.
- In a formal or poetic context, the idea of a 'divided heart' is a common trope used to describe lovers who are physically separated or mentally elsewhere.
- The character 分 (fēn) in this phrase is the same character used in the word for 'minutes', as in dividing an hour into parts.
Examples in context
- 他在开会时分心了He got distracted during the meeting.
- 她上课时总是心猿意马She is always distracted in class.
- 别走神啦，我们在讨论重要的事情Don't get distracted, we're discussing something important.
- 考试时千万别心不在焉Don't be distracted during exams.
- 他在考试时很分心。Tā zài kǎoshì shí hěn fēnxīn.He gets very distracted during exams.
- 别分心，快点做作业。Bié fēnxīn, kuài diǎn zuò zuòyè.Don't get distracted, finish your homework quickly.
- 因为太分心，我没听清。Yīnwèi tài fēnxīn, wǒ méi tīng qīng.Because I was too distracted, I didn't hear clearly.
Example conversation
Yuting and Zhiqiang are studying together in a library.
- 雨婷 Yuting志强，你在听吗？Zhìqiáng, nǐ zài tīng ma?Zhiqiang, are you listening?
- 志强 Zhiqiang对不起，我刚才分心了。Duìbùqǐ, wǒ gāngcái fēnxīn le.Sorry, I got distracted just now.
- 雨婷 Yuting你在想什么呢？Nǐ zài xiǎng shénme ne?What are you thinking about?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我在想晚饭吃什么。Wǒ zài xiǎng wǎnfàn chī shénme.I was thinking about what to eat for dinner.
