Meanings of 心
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About 心
Podcast: 心
Podcast: 心
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AI Study Notes for 心
心 (xīn) vs 意 (yì) — use 心 for emotional or physical heart contexts, while 意 refers to intention or thought.
心 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious not to confuse it with similar characters. Common collocations include 心情 (xīnqíng - mood) and 心里 (xīnlǐ - in one's heart). Remember that the tone is crucial; using the wrong tone could change the meaning entirely.
Though not part of the HSK vocabulary list, 心 is foundational for understanding many compound words related to feelings and thoughts. Students should pay attention to phrases that contain this character, as they frequently appear in everyday conversation.
Learners often confuse 心 (xīn) with other similar-sounding words like 新 (xīn - new). For instance, saying '我心的衣服' when they mean '我的新衣服' (wǒ de xīn yīfú - my new clothes) is incorrect.
Pronunciation of 心
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Etymology of 心
Pictograph of a heart.
A heart
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 心
Pictograph of a heart.
- 1The giveawayA heart
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 心? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 心?
How to say heart in Chinese
“heart” in Chinese is心
The character 心 (xīn) primarily means 'heart' and extends to concepts such as 'mind' and 'intention.' It is often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, as in expressing feelings or thoughts. In Chinese culture, the heart is considered the center of emotions and decision-making.
When to use 心
心 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious not to confuse it with similar characters. Common collocations include 心情 (xīnqíng - mood) and 心里 (xīnlǐ - in one's heart). Remember that the tone is crucial; using the wrong tone could change the meaning entirely.
心 or something close to it
心 (xīn) vs 意 (yì) — use 心 for emotional or physical heart contexts, while 意 refers to intention or thought.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 心 (xīn) with other similar-sounding words like 新 (xīn - new). For instance, saying '我心的衣服' when they mean '我的新衣服' (wǒ de xīn yīfú - my new clothes) is incorrect.
Write 心
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Practice writing 心 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 心
心 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
小____！
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Example Sentences for 心 (10)
Word Family of 心
Compound Meaning
What does 想 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 心
You can use 心 in sentences like '我心里很高兴' (Wǒ xīn lǐ hěn gāoxìng - I am very happy in my heart).
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