Chinese phrases
How to say nervous in Chinese
Nervous in Chinese is 紧张 (jǐn zhāng): 我很紧张 means “I’m nervous.” The same word also means tight or scarce, as in 时间很紧张, “time is tight.”
紧张
nervous; tense
Ways to say nervous
紧张
Everydaynervous; tense
The everyday word, before an exam, an interview or a first date: 我很紧张.
好紧张
With friendsso nervous
With friends and in chats, right before the moment comes. 好 here means “so.”
慌
Everydaypanicked; flustered
When nerves turn to panic and you lose your head: 我慌了, “I panicked.” People calm you down with 别慌.
心里没底
Everydaynot sure it will go well
Nervous because you do not feel ready. The opposite is 心里有底, “I feel sure of it.”
怯场
Everydaystage fright
Nerves in front of people: a speech, a show, a presentation in class.
忐忑
Writtenuneasy; on edge
Bookish. Mostly in writing and in the set phrase 忐忑不安, “restless with worry.”
How to calm someone down
别紧张
don’t be nervous
The standard thing to say before an exam, a speech or an interview.
放松
relax
Often 放松点, “relax a little.”
深呼吸
take a deep breath
Right before you go in or go on stage.
Common mistakes
紧张 that is not about nerves
时间很紧张 means time is tight, and 火车票很紧张 means train tickets are hard to get. Neither is about feelings.
紧张 for worry about results
English “nervous about the results” is worry, so Chinese says 担心: 我有点担心考试结果. 紧张 takes no object, so 我紧张结果 is wrong.
Before an interview
你明天面试，紧张吗？
Qiqi: Your interview is tomorrow. Are you nervous?
好紧张，心里没底。
Leon: So nervous. I don’t feel ready.
别紧张，你准备得很好。
Qiqi: Don’t be nervous. You’ve prepared well.
