Meaning and Usage
"出神" literally means "to go out of one's spirit" and is used to describe a state of being spellbound, dazed, or lost in thought. It often implies that someone is so absorbed or distracted that they are unaware of their surroundings.
Common Contexts
This word is frequently used to describe moments when a person is deeply focused or daydreaming, such as staring blankly at something or being emotionally moved to the point of distraction.
Collocations and Patterns
- 出神地看着 (chū shén de kànzhe): to stare spellbound
- 出神了 (chū shén le): to be dazed or lost in thought
- 出神地想着 (chū shén de xiǎngzhe): to be lost in thought
Usage Notes
"出神" is often used in informal spoken and written Chinese to describe a temporary mental state. It differs from "发呆" (fādāi), which also means to be dazed but can imply more of a vacant or absent-minded state without emotional involvement. "出神" often carries a nuance of emotional or mental absorption.
Avoid confusing "出神" with "神出鬼没" (shén chū guǐ mò), which is an idiom meaning "to appear and disappear mysteriously."