zǒushén: 走神 - To be distracted, To zone out, Inattentive

• Keywords: zoushen, zou shen, 走神, Chinese for zone out, distracted in Chinese, absent-minded, lose focus, mind wandering in Chinese, how to say daydreaming in Chinese, what does zoushen mean
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 走神 (zǒushén), a common and highly descriptive Chinese term for when you “zone out” or get distracted. Literally meaning “the spirit walks away,” this page breaks down its cultural context, practical usage in daily conversation, and provides numerous example sentences to help you master this essential vocabulary word for describing a lapse in concentration.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zǒushén
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Compound (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To let one's mind wander; to be distracted or inattentive.
• In a Nutshell: 走神 (zǒushén) is the perfect word for that universal experience of being physically present but mentally elsewhere. It literally translates to “spirit/mind (神) walks away (走).” Imagine you're in a meeting or a class, and suddenly you realize you haven't heard a word for the last five minutes because your mind was off thinking about lunch or your vacation plans. That moment of unintentional mental escape is precisely 走神.

• 走 (zǒu): This character's primary meaning is “to walk,” “to go,” or “to leave.” Here, it vividly suggests the action of something departing or wandering off.
• 神 (shén): While this character can mean “god” or “deity,” in many contexts, including this one, it refers to one's “spirit,” “mind,” “consciousness,” or “energy.”

When combined, 走神 (zǒushén) creates a powerful and intuitive image: your consciousness has literally “walked away” from the present situation, leaving your body on autopilot.

In Chinese culture, which often places a high value on diligence, focus, and respect (especially in educational and professional settings), 走神 is a common and relatable human failing. While not a severe transgression, being told you are “走神” is a gentle but clear form of correction. A teacher might say it to a student, or a manager to a subordinate, to bring their attention back to the task at hand. Compared to a Western concept like “daydreaming,” 走神 is less about imaginative fantasy and more about a simple, often unintentional, lapse in focus. The closest English equivalent is “to zone out.” While daydreaming can sometimes have a positive, creative connotation, 走神 is almost always seen as a neutral-to-negative state of unproductiveness. It highlights a momentary failure to uphold the cultural value of attentiveness (专心 - zhuānxīn).

走神 is an extremely common, informal term used in everyday life across all age groups.

• In Conversation: You can use it to apologize for not listening. For example, “对不起，我刚才走神了 (Duìbuqǐ, wǒ gāngcái zǒushén le) - Sorry, I just zoned out for a moment.”
• At School/Work: It's frequently used to describe a lack of focus. A teacher might ask a student, “你上课又走神了？(Nǐ shàngkè yòu zǒushén le?) - Were you zoning out in class again?”
• Self-Correction: People often use it to describe their own mental state. “我开车的时候从不走神 (Wǒ kāichē de shíhou cóngbù zǒushén) - I never let my mind wander when I'm driving.”

Its connotation is generally informal and not overly harsh. It's an admission of a minor flaw, not a serious character defect.

• Example 1:
  • 老师提问时，他正在走神，所以没有回答。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī tíwèn shí, tā zhèngzài zǒushén, suǒyǐ méiyǒu huídá.
  • English: When the teacher asked a question, he was zoning out, so he didn't answer.
  • Analysis: A classic classroom scenario. This shows 走神 as the reason for an action (or inaction).
• Example 2:
  • 对不起，我刚才走神了，你能再说一遍吗？
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ gāngcái zǒushén le, nǐ néng zài shuō yī biàn ma?
  • English: Sorry, I was distracted just now, can you say that again?
  • Analysis: This is a polite and common way to apologize for not paying attention in a conversation. The particle `了 (le)` indicates the action was completed in the recent past.
• Example 3:
  • 开会的时候请大家不要走神。
  • Pinyin: Kāihuì de shíhou qǐng dàjiā bùyào zǒushén.
  • English: Please, everyone, don't let your minds wander during the meeting.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how to use 走神 in a prohibitive command, using `不要 (bùyào)`. It's a common instruction in formal settings like meetings.
• Example 4:
  • 她盯着窗外，好像走神了。
  • Pinyin: Tā dīngzhe chuāngwài, hǎoxiàng zǒushén le.
  • English: She was staring out the window, it seems like she zoned out.
  • Analysis: Here, `好像 (hǎoxiàng)` means “it seems like,” used to make an observation about someone else's mental state.
• Example 5:
  • 这个问题太无聊了，我听着听着就走神了。
  • Pinyin: Zhège wèntí tài wúliáo le, wǒ tīngzhe tīngzhe jiù zǒushén le.
  • English: This topic is so boring, I started zoning out as I was listening.
  • Analysis: The `听着听着 (tīngzhe tīngzhe)` structure indicates that the action of zoning out happened *while* in the process of listening.
• Example 6:
  • 专心点儿，别走神！
  • Pinyin: Zhuānxīn diǎnr, bié zǒushén!
  • English: Focus! Don't get distracted!
  • Analysis: A very common, sharp, and informal command. `别 (bié)` is a direct way to say “don't.”
• Example 7:
  • 我发现自己学习的时候很容易走神。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ fāxiàn zìjǐ xuéxí de shíhou hěn róngyì zǒushén.
  • English: I find that I get distracted very easily when I study.
  • Analysis: This shows how to talk about the *tendency* to zone out, using `很容易 (hěn róngyì)` which means “very easily.”
• Example 8:
  • 你是不是在想别的事情？你有点走神。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì zài xiǎng bié de shìqing? Nǐ yǒudiǎn zǒushén.
  • English: Are you thinking about something else? You seem a bit distracted.
  • Analysis: `有点 (yǒudiǎn)` means “a little bit” or “a bit,” softening the observation and making it less accusatory.
• Example 9:
  • 开车走神是非常危险的。
  • Pinyin: Kāichē zǒushén shì fēicháng wēixiǎn de.
  • English: Zoning out while driving is extremely dangerous.
  • Analysis: This example uses 走神 as the subject of the sentence, highlighting the danger of the action itself.
• Example 10:
  • 一提到放假，他就开始走神，计划去哪儿玩了。
  • Pinyin: Yī tídào fàngjià, tā jiù kāishǐ zǒushén, jìhuà qù nǎr wán le.
  • English: As soon as vacation was mentioned, he started zoning out, planning where to go play.
  • Analysis: The `一…就… (yī…jiù…)` structure means “as soon as… then…” showing a direct cause and effect.

• Temporary vs. Permanent: 走神 (zǒushén) describes a *temporary* lapse of attention. It is an action. It is not a permanent personality trait. To describe someone who is generally “absent-minded,” you might use a different term like `丢三落四 (diūsān làsì)` (forgetful/scatterbrained).
• 走神 (zǒushén) vs. 分心 (fēnxīn): This is a key distinction.
  • 走神 (zǒushén) is typically an *internal* process. Your mind wanders off on its own without a specific external trigger. It's “zoning out.”
  • 分心 (fēnxīn) usually implies an *external* distraction. Your attention is actively pulled away by something. It's “to have one's attention diverted.”
  • Example: If you're studying and your mind starts thinking about dinner, you are 走神. If you're studying and a loud noise outside makes you look up, you are 分心.
• Incorrect Usage: Do not use 走神 to describe being confused or not understanding something.
  • Incorrect: `这个问题太难了，我走神了。` (This sounds like you got bored and zoned out, not that you were confused by the difficulty).
  • Correct: `这个问题太难了，我没听懂。` (Wǒ méi tīng dǒng - I didn't understand).

• 分心 (fēnxīn) - A close synonym meaning “to get distracted,” but usually by an external cause.
• 发呆 (fādāi) - To stare blankly into space. It's the physical expression of what is often happening mentally during 走神.
• 专心 (zhuānxīn) - (Antonym) An adjective meaning “to be focused” or “concentrated.” The opposite state of 走神.
• 注意力 (zhùyìlì) - The noun for “attention” or “concentration.” Someone who often 走神 has poor `注意力`.
• 集中 (jízhōng) - A verb meaning “to concentrate” or “to focus” (e.g., `集中注意力` - to focus one's attention).
• 思想开小差 (sīxiǎng kāi xiǎochāi) - A vivid idiom literally meaning “one's thoughts go AWOL (absent without leave).” A more formal or literary synonym for 走神.
• 恍惚 (huǎnghū) - To be in a trance or daze. This is a stronger state than 走神 and often implies confusion, fatigue, or emotional shock.
• 心不在焉 (xīnbùzàiyān) - A chengyu (idiom) meaning “the heart/mind is not here.” A more formal way to describe the state of being absent-minded or distracted.