心燥 (xīn zào) literally combines 心 (xīn), meaning 'heart' or 'mind', and 燥 (zào), meaning 'dry' or 'feverish'. Together, they describe a mental state of inner restlessness — like a dry, overheated mind unable to settle. It conveys irritability, impatience, or agitation that arises from emotional tension rather than external provocation.

This term is commonly used in everyday speech and writing to describe how someone feels during stressful periods — such as before an exam, during prolonged waiting, or amid unresolved conflict. Unlike more clinical terms like 焦虑 (jiāo lǜ, 'anxiety'), 心燥 carries a warmer, more colloquial tone and often implies a temporary, surface-level discomfort rather than deep psychological distress. It’s frequently paired with verbs like 感到 (gǎn dào, 'to feel') or 影响 (yǐng xiǎng, 'to affect').