精神分析
jīngshén fēnxi
The English phrase psychoanalysis is 精神分析 (jīngshén fēnxi) in Chinese.
精神分析 refers to the family of psychological theories known as psychoanalysis. You may also see the term 精神分析学 used specifically when referring to psychoanalysis as an academic field of study or a discipline.
Meaning: family of psychological theories (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 精神 (jīngshén), meaning 'spirit' or 'mind' and 分析 (fēnxī), meaning 'analysis'.
How do you pronounce it?
jīngshén fēnxī
Did you know?
- Chinese differentiates between the practice of psychoanalysis 精神分析 and the broader field of psychology 心理学, which uses a different root for 'mind' (心 meaning 'heart').
- In modern Chinese internet slang, using words related to 精神 can sometimes refer to someone acting 'crazy' or 'eccentric' in a humorous way.
- In some older Chinese texts, 精神 referred specifically to the 'vital essence' of a person, linking the modern term for psychoanalysis to ancient traditional medicine.
Examples in context
- 在那个年代，心理学的两个主要学派是行为主义学派与精神分析学派。At that time, the two main schools of thought in psychology were behaviourism and psychoanalysis.This sentence is useful for discussing the historical schools of thought in psychology using 精神分析.Tatoeba #2188467 by sadhen, translation #10540346 by sundown
- 精神分析是心理学的一个分支。Jīngshén fēnxī shì xīlǐxué de yīgè fēnzhī.Psychoanalysis is a branch of psychology.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing their elective courses.
- 雨婷 Yuting俊杰，你这学期选了什么课？Jùnjié, nǐ zhè xuéqī xuǎnle shénme kè?Junjie, what class did you take this semester?
- 俊杰 Junjie我选了一门关于精神分析的课程。Wǒ xuǎnle yì mén guānyú jīngshén fēnxī de kèchéng.I took a course on psychoanalysis.
- 雨婷 Yuting听起来很有意思，很难吗？Tīng qǐlái hěn yǒu yìsi, hěn nán ma?That sounds interesting, is it difficult?
- 俊杰 Junjie有点难，但内容非常吸引我。Yǒudiǎn nán, dàn nèiróng fēicháng xīyǐn wǒ.It's a bit hard, but the content really attracts me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “psychoanalysis” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
