1.mental的基本意思是“头脑的,思想的,心理的”,指相对于physical或bodily的“精神上的”。也可表示“智力的,脑力的”。在句中可用作定语,也可用作表语。
2.mental也可作“精神病的”解,此时在句中只用作定语。
3.mental无比较级和最高级形式。

mental block
思路〔思想〕中断 obstruction to a thought process
I get a mental block every time I try to do sums in my head.我一用心算做加法,脑子就木了。

用作定语
▲～+n.
His mental abilities are very good.他的智力非常好。
He got the answer by mental arithmetic.他用心算得出了答案。
Though he is fifteen, he has a mental age of less than five.他虽然15岁了,但他的智力年龄却低于5岁。
The teacher will exam our ability by a mental test.老师将通过一个智力测验检查我们的能力。
He has better mental powers than I.他的智力胜过我。
I will not cease from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in my hand.我不会停止内心的争斗,我的剑也不会在手中睡大觉。
He is undergoing mental treatment.他正在接受精神治疗。
This is a hospital for those people who suffer mental diseases.这是一个专门治疗精神病人的医院。
This experience caused him much mental suffering.这一经历给他的精神造成极大的伤害。
Male nurses are particularly important in caring for men in mental hospitals.在精神病院里护理男病人,男护士是尤其重要的。
用作表语
▲S+be+～
His problem is mental, not physical.他的问题是心理的而不是身体的。
Don't listen to him, he is mental.不要听他的,他的神经有问题。

mental, spiritual
这两个词都有“心灵上的”的意思。其区别是:
1.mental侧重“心理上的”; spiritual侧重“心灵上的”。例如:
His agony was mental, not physical.
他的痛苦是心理上的,不是身体上的。
Her spiritual beauty outshone her physical beauty.
她的心灵美胜于她的外表美。
2.spiritual还有“宗教的”“教会的”意思,而mental没有此义。例如:
I am not concerned with man's spiritual problems.我不关注人们宗教方面的问题。

［同义词］   abstract, crazy, disturbed, intellectual
［反义词］   balanced, physical, sane
［词源］  ＜后期拉丁语mentalis ＜拉丁语mens(思维,智力,精神)