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内心 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
内心nèixīnheartHSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, rank #1816, Medium
内心nèixīninnermost beingHSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, rank #1816, Medium
内心nèixīn(math.) incenterHSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, rank #1816, Medium
nèixīn(nei4xin1) T4
  1. 1heart
  2. 2innermost being
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March 24, 2026

内心(內心)nèixīn(nei4xin1)

内心 (nèi xīn) refers to one's innermost thoughts and feelings, representing the emotional and mental core of a person. It is often used in contexts discussing introspection, personal beliefs, and hidden emotions, conveying a sense of vulnerability or authenticity.

Strokes8Frequency#1816DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there's a strong emphasis on the collective versus the individual. 内心 reflects the importance of understanding one's inner self, which can be a contrast to the outward expressions often valued in social contexts.

Memory Tip

Think of 内 (nèi) meaning 'inside' and 心 (xīn) meaning 'heart.' Visualize a heart that is hidden inside a protective shell, representing the deep, private thoughts and feelings we keep within ourselves.

Meanings of 内心

nèixīn(nei4xin1)
1heart
2innermost being
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About 内心

内心Simplified
內心Traditional
8Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 内心

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Podcast: 内心

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AI Study Notes for 内心

Quick Contrast

内心 (nèi xīn) vs 心里 (xīn lǐ): use 内心 when emphasizing deep, personal feelings, while 心里 is more general, referring to thoughts or feelings that may not be as profound.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 内心 with just '心' (heart), which can refer to the physical heart or emotions in a more general sense. 内心 is more formal and is often used in literary or psychological discussions. Common collocations include '内心感受' (inner feelings) and '内心世界' (inner world).

HSK Study Tips

Although 内心 is not directly listed in the HSK vocabulary, it can enhance your understanding of emotional and psychological discussions in Chinese. Focus on related words like 心 (heart) and 内 (inside) to grasp the nuance better.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 内心 interchangeably with other words for 'heart' or 'feelings,' like 心情 (mood) or 心. Remember that 内心 emphasizes the inner, private aspect of one's thoughts and emotions, while other terms may not carry that depth.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 内心

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Component Characters

内nèiinside
HSK 44 strokes入
View full entry
心xīnheart
HSK 44 strokes心
View full entry

How to say heart in Chinese

“heart” in Chinese is内心nèixīn

内心 (nèi xīn) refers to one's innermost thoughts and feelings, representing the emotional and mental core of a person. It is often used in contexts discussing introspection, personal beliefs, and hidden emotions, conveying a sense of vulnerability or authenticity.

When to use 内心

Be cautious not to confuse 内心 with just '心' (heart), which can refer to the physical heart or emotions in a more general sense. 内心 is more formal and is often used in literary or psychological discussions. Common collocations include '内心感受' (inner feelings) and '内心世界' (inner world).

内心 or something close to it

内心 (nèi xīn) vs 心里 (xīn lǐ): use 内心 when emphasizing deep, personal feelings, while 心里 is more general, referring to thoughts or feelings that may not be as profound.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 内心 interchangeably with other words for 'heart' or 'feelings,' like 心情 (mood) or 心. Remember that 内心 emphasizes the inner, private aspect of one's thoughts and emotions, while other terms may not carry that depth.

Write 内心

内
心

Practice writing 内心 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 内心

You might say, '我内心感到很矛盾' which means 'I feel very conflicted in my heart.'

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