# 聚精会神

jù jīng huì shén

Concentrate one's attention fully

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Gather focus and unite the spirit

**Traditional Chinese:** 聚精會神

**Register:** Positive · general

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Describe intent listening, reading, or observation.

Attention is the point, not physical stillness alone.

## Understanding the expression

Mental energy is gathered rather than scattered, making attention settle on one object. The expression often describes watching a demonstration, hearing a story, or studying a difficult passage. It can modify a verb with 地. The focused person need not be silent forever; asking a relevant question may show the same engagement. What distinguishes the state is involvement in the present task rather than an outwardly quiet posture with a wandering mind.

## Examples

学生聚精会神地看实验。

### Traditional Chinese

學生聚精會神地看實驗。

xué shēng jù jīng huì shén dì kàn shí yàn 。

The students watched the experiment attentively.

他聚精会神地听奶奶讲故事。

### Traditional Chinese

他聚精會神地聽奶奶講故事。

tā jù jīng huì shén dì tīng nǎi nai jiǎng gù shì 。

He listened intently to Grandma's story.

她聚精会神地观察鸟巢。

### Traditional Chinese

她聚精會神地觀察鳥巢。

tā jù jīng huì shén dì guān chá niǎo cháo 。

She watched the nest with full attention.

请聚精会神地听这段说明。

### Traditional Chinese

請聚精會神地聽這段說明。

qǐng jù jīng huì shén dì tīng zhè duàn shuō míng 。

Listen closely to this explanation.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%81%9A%E7%B2%BE%E6%9C%83%E7%A5%9E)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=607&webMd=1&la=0)

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