Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 心理健康 | xīnlǐ jiànkāng |
| 精神衛生 / 精神卫生 | jīngshén wèishēng |
The term for mental health varies depending on whether you are emphasizing psychological well-being or discussing mental health as a medical or public health discipline. To discuss one's overall mental and emotional condition in a casual or informal way, you can use 精神状态.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 心理健康 (xīnlǐ jiànkāng) is composed of 心理 (psychology/mental) and 健康 (health), literally meaning psychological health.
Which one should you use?
心理健康 is the most common way to refer to an individual's mental well-being in a general or clinical sense. In contrast, 精神卫生 (or the traditional 精神衛生) refers more specifically to mental health as a field of medical or public health discipline, often translated as 'mental hygiene'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, 心理健康 is a commonly used term for mental health. In Mainland China, the simplified form 精神卫生 is the standard terminology for mental health as a medical or administrative concept. The traditional form 精神衛生 is used in regions like Taiwan and Hong Kong.
How do you pronounce it?
xīnlǐ jiànkāng
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the word 精神 (jīngshén) can be used to describe 'madness' or 'insanity' in a derogatory way, which is why 心理健康 is often preferred for sensitivity.
- Chinese speakers may use the phrase 心累 (xīn lèi), meaning 'heart tired', to describe mental exhaustion when 心理健康 feels too formal or clinical.
- In casual conversation, people often describe poor mental health using the word 压力 (yālì), which means 'pressure', as a shorthand for being stressed or overwhelmed.
Examples in context
- 我们应该重视心理健康。Wǒmen yīnggāi zhòngshì xīnlǐ jiànkāng.We should value mental health.
- 良好的睡眠对心理健康很重要。Liánghǎo de shuìmián duì xīnlǐ jiànkāng hěn zhòngyào.Good sleep is very important for mental health.
- 压力会影响你的心理健康。Yālì huì yǐngxiǎng nǐ de xīnlǐ jiànkāng.Stress will affect your mental health.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about work stress in a cafe.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你最近工作压力很大吗？Nǐ zuìjìn gōngzuò yālì hěn dà ma?Have you been under a lot of work pressure lately?
- 俊杰 Junjie是的，我感觉有点累了。Shì de, wǒ gǎnjué yǒudiǎn lèi le.Yes, I feel a bit tired.
- 佳怡 Jiayi别忘了关注自己的心理健康。Bié wàngle guānzhù zìjǐ de xīnlǐ jiànkāng.Don't forget to look after your own mental health.
- 俊杰 Junjie谢谢你的关心，佳怡。Xièxiè nǐ de guānxīn, Jiāyí.Thanks for your concern, Jiayi.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mental health” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
