san4 ging1神經神经

Jyutpingsan4 ging1

Yalesàhn gīng

名詞Common

Definition

Nerve; the bundle of fibers in the nervous system that transmits sensory and motor signals.

colloquialbodyhealth

How it's used

Beyond the biological meaning, this term is frequently used in casual speech to describe someone who is acting erratically, irrationally, or crazy. Calling someone 神經 or 神經病 is a common way to express frustration with their behavior, though it can be quite offensive depending on the tone. In a medical context, it remains the standard term for nerves and neurological conditions.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日tau4頭tung3痛，ji1醫sang1生waa6話hai6係san4神ging1經seoi1衰joek6弱。

He has constant headaches, the doctor says it is neurasthenia.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪san4神ging1經jau5有man6問tai4題aa4呀？zou6做mat1乜gam3咁joeng2樣gong2講je5嘢？

Is there something wrong with your nerves? Why are you talking like that?

Common phrases

san4神ging1經beng6病

crazy person

san4神ging1經seoi1衰joek6弱

neurasthenia

nou5腦san4神ging1經

cranial nerves

Common mistake

Avoid using this word to describe being nervous or anxious, as that is better expressed by 緊張. Using 神經 to describe a person implies they are mentally unstable rather than just feeling stressed.