shàngyǐn: 上瘾 - To Be Addicted, To Get Hooked On

• Keywords: shangyin, 上瘾, Chinese for addiction, addicted in Chinese, get hooked on, addiction to games, obsession, habit in Chinese, quit an addiction, HSK 5, Chinese vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to use “shàngyǐn” (上瘾), the essential Chinese word for addiction. This versatile term covers everything from serious substance abuse to being humorously “hooked” on a new TV show, video game, or bubble tea. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage with dozens of examples, helping you discuss habits and obsessions like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shàngyǐn
• Part of Speech: Verb / Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To become addicted to something; to form a compulsive habit.
• In a Nutshell: “Shàngyǐn” is the go-to word in Chinese for “addiction.” It describes both the process of becoming addicted and the state of being addicted. While it can refer to serious, harmful addictions like drugs or gambling, it's also very commonly used in a casual, even joking, way to describe being obsessed with a hobby, a food, or a form of entertainment. It captures the feeling of a strong craving or compulsion.

• 上 (shàng): This character most commonly means “up,” “on,” or “to go up.” In this context, think of it as “to get on” or “to enter into a state of.” It signifies the start or continuation of a condition.
• 瘾 (yǐn): This character means “addiction” or “craving.” Notice the character radical on the left: 疒. This is the “sickness radical” (bìng zì páng), which is found in characters related to illness and disease (e.g., 病 bìng - illness, 疼 téng - pain). This visually links the concept of addiction to a type of sickness or ailment.

When you put them together, 上瘾 (shàngyǐn) literally means “to get on an addiction” or “to be afflicted with a craving.” This combination perfectly captures the idea of falling into a state of compulsive desire.

In Chinese culture, particularly in recent decades, the concept of 上瘾 (shàngyǐn) has become a major topic of social discourse, especially concerning youth. The intense pressure to succeed academically and professionally means that any activity seen as a distraction can be labeled with 上瘾. A key cultural point is the concern over 网瘾 (wǎngyǐn - internet addiction) and 游戏上瘾 (yóuxì shàngyǐn - video game addiction). These are viewed by many parents and educators as serious societal problems that threaten a child's future, leading to the controversial rise of “internet addiction treatment centers” in China. Compared to the English word “addiction,” 上瘾 (shàngyǐn) is used much more broadly and casually in everyday speech. An American might say, “I'm really into this new Netflix series.” A Chinese speaker could easily express the same idea by saying, “我看这个剧上瘾了” (wǒ kàn zhège jù shàngyǐn le), which literally means “I'm addicted to watching this show.” This hyperbolic, informal usage for hobbies and interests is extremely common and doesn't carry the heavy, clinical weight that “addiction” often does in English. Understanding this dual usage—both serious and casual—is key to mastering the term.

The connotation of 上瘾 (shàngyǐn) depends entirely on the context.

When discussing substances, gambling, or behaviors with clear negative consequences, 上瘾 is taken very seriously.

• 他对酒精上瘾了。 (Tā duì jiǔjīng shàngyǐn le.) - He is addicted to alcohol.
• 赌博很容易上瘾，你千万不要碰。 (Dǔbó hěn róngyì shàngyǐn, nǐ qiānwàn búyào pèng.) - Gambling is very addictive, you must never touch it.

Among friends and in informal settings, it's frequently used to describe a strong interest or a newly formed habit. Here, it simply means you “can't get enough” of something.

• 我最近对健身有点上瘾。 (Wǒ zuìjìn duì jiànshēn yǒudiǎn shàngyǐn.) - I've been a bit hooked on working out lately.
• 这款手机游戏太好玩了，我完全上瘾了！ (Zhè kuǎn shǒujī yóuxì tài hǎowán le, wǒ wánquán shàngyǐn le!) - This mobile game is so fun, I'm completely hooked!

The most common sentence structure is: 对 + [Object] + 上瘾 (duì + [Object] + shàngyǐn)

• Example 1:
  • 我儿子玩电子游戏玩上瘾了，每天都玩到半夜。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ érzi wán diànzǐ yóuxì wán shàngyǐn le, měitiān dōu wán dào bànyè.
  • English: My son is addicted to playing video games; he plays until midnight every day.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of a common parental concern in China. The context (playing until midnight) gives 上瘾 a clearly negative connotation.
• Example 2:
  • 小心！这种零食会吃上瘾的。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn! Zhè zhǒng língshí huì chī shàngyǐn de.
  • English: Be careful! You can get addicted to this snack.
  • Analysis: A casual, friendly warning. It's used hyperbolically to mean the snack is “moreish” or “dangerously delicious.”
• Example 3:
  • 我最近看一部历史剧看上瘾了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuìjìn kàn yí bù lìshǐjù kàn shàngyǐn le.
  • English: I've gotten addicted to watching a historical drama recently.
  • Analysis: This is a very common, informal use. It just means you are binge-watching a show and are really into it. No negative meaning is implied.
• Example 4:
  • 他对咖啡因上瘾了，一天不喝就头疼。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì kāfēiyīn shàngyǐn le, yì tiān bù hē jiù tóuténg.
  • English: He's addicted to caffeine; if he doesn't drink it for a day, he gets a headache.
  • Analysis: This example moves from casual use to describing a physical dependency. The consequence (headache) makes the addiction feel more real than just a strong interest.
• Example 5:
  • 为了健康，他决定戒掉烟瘾，但过程非常痛苦，因为他上瘾太深了。
  • Pinyin: Wèile jiànkāng, tā juédìng jièdiào yānyǐn, dàn guòchéng fēicháng tòngkǔ, yīnwèi tā shàngyǐn tài shēn le.
  • English: For his health, he decided to quit his smoking addiction, but the process was very painful because he was too deeply addicted.
  • Analysis: A very serious context. Here, 上瘾 is paired with “太深了” (tài shēn le - too deep) to emphasize the severity of the addiction.
• Example 6:
  • 你是不是对刷手机上瘾了？我们说句话你都不理。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì duì shuā shǒujī shàngyǐn le? Wǒmen shuō jù huà nǐ dōu bù lǐ.
  • English: Are you addicted to scrolling on your phone? You're ignoring us while we're trying to talk to you.
  • Analysis: A common complaint in the modern era. It's a criticism, so the connotation is negative. “刷手机” (shuā shǒujī - literally “brushing the phone”) is the colloquial term for using/scrolling on a smartphone.
• Example 7:
  • 我承认，我对买鞋有点上瘾。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ chéngrèn, wǒ duì mǎi xié yǒudiǎn shàngyǐn.
  • English: I admit, I'm a bit addicted to buying shoes.
  • Analysis: A self-aware, slightly humorous confession. “有点” (yǒudiǎn - a little bit) softens the meaning, making it sound like a guilty pleasure rather than a serious problem.
• Example 8:
  • 这家店的麻辣火锅能让人上瘾。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn de málà huǒguō néng ràng rén shàngyǐn.
  • English: This restaurant's spicy hot pot can get people hooked.
  • Analysis: This is high praise for food. It means it's so delicious that you'll crave it and want to come back again and again.
• Example 9:
  • 很多年轻人对网络直播打赏上瘾，花掉了大量积蓄。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén duì wǎngluò zhíbō dǎshǎng shàngyǐn, huādiào le dàliàng jīxù.
  • English: Many young people are addicted to giving virtual gifts on livestreams, spending a huge amount of their savings.
  • Analysis: This describes a real social issue in China. The context of spending savings makes 上瘾 clearly negative and problematic.
• Example 10:
  • 想要戒掉一个坏习惯，首先要承认自己已经上瘾了。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎngyào jièdiào yí gè huài xíguàn, shǒuxiān yào chéngrèn zìjǐ yǐjīng shàngyǐn le.
  • English: If you want to break a bad habit, you must first admit that you are already addicted.
  • Analysis: A general, psychological statement about the nature of addiction and recovery. It uses 上瘾 in its formal, clinical sense.

• Mistake: Confusing 上瘾 (shàngyǐn) with 习惯 (xíguàn).
  • 上瘾 (shàngyǐn) implies a compulsion and often a negative consequence if the desire isn't met. It's about a craving you can't control easily.
  • 习惯 (xíguàn) is simply a “habit” or “custom.” It's neutral and often positive. It's a routine, not a compulsion.
  • Example:
    • Correct: 我有每天早上跑步的习惯。(Wǒ yǒu měitiān zǎoshang pǎobù de xíguàn.) - I have the habit of jogging every morning. (A neutral/good routine).
    • Incorrect: 我有每天早上跑步的上瘾。 (Grammatically awkward and semantically strange).
    • Correct: 我对咖啡上瘾了，不喝就难受。(Wǒ duì kāfēi shàngyǐn le, bù hē jiù nánshòu.) - I'm addicted to coffee, I feel awful if I don't drink it. (Shows compulsion and negative consequence).
• Pitfall: Translating casually used “shangyin” too seriously in English.
  • If a Chinese friend says “我玩这个游戏上瘾了” (Wǒ wán zhège yóuxì shàngyǐn le), don't assume they have a clinical gaming addiction. They most likely just mean “I'm really hooked on this game!” or “I can't stop playing this game!” Always look at the context to judge the severity.

• 戒 (jiè) - To quit, to give up (an addiction). This is the verb you use when you want to stop being 上瘾. Ex: 戒烟 (jièyān) - to quit smoking.
• 沉迷 (chénmí) - To be engrossed in, to indulge in. Similar to 上瘾 but emphasizes the state of being lost in an activity, often to the point of neglecting other duties. It's almost always negative.
• 着迷 (zháomí) - To be fascinated by, captivated by. A more positive synonym. It focuses on intense interest and fascination rather than compulsion and craving.
• 瘾君子 (yǐnjūnzi) - A drug addict. A very strong, specific, and derogatory term. (Literally “addiction gentleman”).
• 网瘾 (wǎngyǐn) - Internet addiction. A compound word using 瘾.
• 毒瘾 (dúyǐn) - Drug addiction. (毒 dú = poison, drug).
• 酒瘾 (jiǔyǐn) - Alcoholism, addiction to alcohol. (酒 jiǔ = alcohol).
• 烟瘾 (yānyǐn) - Nicotine/smoking addiction. (烟 yān = smoke, cigarette).
• 习惯 (xíguàn) - Habit. The neutral term to contrast with the compulsive nature of 上瘾.