How do I say ‘I’m stressed’?
Natural when stress comes from workload, expectations, money, study, or responsibility.
我压力很大
I’m under a lot of pressure.
My pressure is very big.
I’m under a lot of pressure.
WHEN IT FITS
Choose the Chinese phrase by the source of the feeling, not by one English word covering every kind of stress.
Chinese defaults to naming the external cause — 压力 (pressure) — rather than the internal feeling, which is a pattern worth noticing. 压力大 points to workload, expectations, or circumstances; 焦虑 names the emotional experience of anxiety itself. They often co-occur but are not synonyms. When in doubt about which fits, ask: am I describing the load or describing the feeling?
HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY SAY IT
最近工作太多了，我压力很大。
There’s been too much work lately. I’m really stressed.
Work pressure快考试了，大家压力都很大。
Exams are coming, and everyone is under pressure.
Study pressureCHOOSE BY SITUATION
我最近很焦虑
I’ve been anxious lately.
The experience is emotional anxiety rather than external pressure