紧张 (jǐnzhāng)

紧张 covers both the internal feeling of nervousness or anxiety and the external state of tension, tightness, or scarcity.

Meanings

[adjective] Nervous; anxious (about a person's mental state).
[adjective] Tense; strained (about a situation or relationship).
[adjective] In short supply; tight (about resources or time).

Example Sentences

考试前我总是很紧张。 Kǎoshì qián wǒ zǒng shì hěn jǐnzhāng. I am always very nervous before exams.

两国之间的关系十分紧张。 Liǎng guó zhījiān de guānxi shífēn jǐnzhāng. Relations between the two countries are very tense.

最近住房资源非常紧张。 Zuìjìn zhùfáng zīyuán fēicháng jǐnzhāng. Housing resources have been very tight recently.

时间很紧张，我们必须快点。 Shíjiān hěn jǐnzhāng, wǒmen bìxū kuài diǎn. Time is very tight; we must hurry.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
感到紧张	to feel nervous
关系紧张	tense relationship
资源紧张	tight/scarce resources
时间紧张	pressed for time
紧张气氛	tense atmosphere

Usage Notes

紧张 is a multifaceted adjective. Context determines whether it refers to personal anxiety, a strained situation, or scarce resources. The opposite for "nervous" is 放松 (fàngsōng, relaxed), while the opposite for "scarce/tight" is 充足 (chōngzú, sufficient).

Memory Hook

紧 means "tight/tense" and 张 means "to stretch" — when something is stretched tight, everything feels nervous and tense.