after one's heart (idiom); gratifying and satisfactory
HSK 7, i, 33 strokes, rank #29634, Very Hard
称心如意
chènxīnrúyì
everything one could wish
HSK 7, i, 33 strokes, rank #29634, Very Hard
chènxīnrúyì(chen4xin1ru2yi4)chen xin ru yi T4
1after one's heart (idiom); gratifying and satisfactory
2everything one could wish
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March 24, 2026
称心如意(稱心如意)chènxīnrúyì(chen4xin1ru2yi4)
称心如意 is an idiom that expresses a state of satisfaction and fulfillment, where everything meets one's desires or expectations. It is often used to describe situations, outcomes, or conditions that align perfectly with what one wishes or hopes for.
Strokes33Frequency#29634DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of personal satisfaction is highly valued, often tied to family harmony and success in personal endeavors. Celebrations or congratulations are frequently expressed with this phrase, especially during significant life events like weddings or promotions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person receiving a perfect gift that exactly matches their heart's desire. The characters 称 (chen) and 心 (xin) can be remembered as 'weighing the heart', emphasizing how everything is balanced and satisfactory, while 如 (ru) means 'like' and 意 (yi) means 'intention', suggesting that the outcome is just like one intended.
Meanings of 称心如意
chènxīnrúyì(chen4xin1ru2yi4)
1after one's heart (idiom); gratifying and satisfactory
2everything one could wish
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About 称心如意
称心如意Simplified
稱心如意Traditional
33Strokes
—Radical
成语chéngyǔidiom (id.)Part of Speech
#29634Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7TOCFLL5HSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1
Podcast: 称心如意
Podcast: 称心如意
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AI Study Notes for 称心如意
Usage Notes
This idiom is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing personal satisfaction or success. A common mistake is to use it in a negative context, as it only applies to positive outcomes. Be cautious with tone; the characters must be pronounced correctly to convey the intended meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 idiom, 称心如意 connects well with other idiomatic expressions related to success and satisfaction. Students should focus on understanding the context in which such idioms are used, as they often convey nuanced emotions and cultural sentiments.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 称心如意 with similar idioms and may use it in contexts that imply dissatisfaction. For example, saying '我今天不称心如意' would be incorrect; instead, one should say '我今天很称心如意' to express satisfaction.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 称心如意
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How to say after one's heart (idiom); gratifying and satisfactory in Chinese
“after one's heart (idiom); gratifying and satisfactory” in Chinese is称心如意chènxīnrúyì
称心如意 is an idiom that expresses a state of satisfaction and fulfillment, where everything meets one's desires or expectations. It is often used to describe situations, outcomes, or conditions that align perfectly with what one wishes or hopes for.
When to use 称心如意
This idiom is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing personal satisfaction or success. A common mistake is to use it in a negative context, as it only applies to positive outcomes. Be cautious with tone; the characters must be pronounced correctly to convey the intended meaning.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 称心如意 with similar idioms and may use it in contexts that imply dissatisfaction. For example, saying '我今天不称心如意' would be incorrect; instead, one should say '我今天很称心如意' to express satisfaction.
Write 称心如意
称
心
如
意
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Practice writing 称心如意 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 称心如意
称心如意 functions as a four-character idiom (成语). Treat it as a fixed unit; it usually plays the role of a single adjective, adverb, or noun phrase inside the larger sentence. It carries 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她交男朋友一直不顺,而这一次似乎____了.
She hasn't always been lucky with her boyfriends but she seems to have struck gold this time.
Example Sentences for 称心如意 (10)
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iafter one's heart (idiom); gratifying and satisfactory7
1
她交男朋友一直不顺,而这一次似乎称心如意了.
tā jiāo nán péng yǒu yī zhí bù shùn, , ér zhè yī cì sì hū chēng xīn rú yì.
She hasn't always been lucky with her boyfriends but she seems to have struck gold this time.
2
他终于买到了那辆梦寐以求的汽车，真是称心如意。
Tā zhōngyú mǎi dào le nà liàng mèng mèi yǐ qiú de qìchē, zhēn shì chènxīnrúyì.
He finally bought the car of his dreams, truly gratifying and satisfactory.
3
经过长时间的寻找，他们找到了一个称心如意的房东，友好而且理解他们的需求。
Jīngguò cháng shíjiān de xúnzhǎo, tāmen zhǎodào le yīgè chènxīnrúyì de fángdōng, yǒuhǎo érqiě lǐjiě tāmen de xūqiú.
After a long search, they found a landlord who was after their heart, friendly and understanding of their needs.
4
她在这家餐厅点的每道菜都让她感到称心如意。
Tā zài zhè jiā cāntīng diǎn de měi dào cài dōu ràng tā gǎndào chènxīnrúyì.
Every dish she ordered at this restaurant was gratifying and satisfactory to her.
5
经过漫长的等待，他终于买到了称心如意的房子，正是他一直梦想的样子。
Jīngguò màncháng de děngdài, tā zhōngyú mǎidào le chènxīnrúyì de fángzi, zhèng shì tā yīzhí mèngxiǎng de yàngzi.
After a long wait, he finally bought a house that was exactly what he had always dreamed of.
6
她的婚礼策划得称心如意，每一个细节都完美无缺。
Tā de hūnlǐ cèhuà dé chènxīnrúyì, měi yī gè xìjié dōu wánměi wúquē.
Her wedding was planned to perfection, with every detail gratifying and satisfactory.
7
参加这个项目后，她的职业发展取得了称心如意的进展。
Cānjiā zhège xiàngmù hòu, tā de zhíyè fāzhǎn qǔdéle chènxīnrúyì de jìnzhǎn.
After participating in this project, her career development made gratifying and satisfactory progress.
ieverything one could wish3
8
他找到了一份称心如意的工作，不但薪水高，而且离家很近。
Tā zhǎodào le yī fèn chènxīnrúyì de gōngzuò, bùdàn xīnshuǐ gāo, érqiě lí jiā hěn jìn.
He found a job that was everything he could wish for, with a high salary and close to home.
9
经过多次挫折，她终于找到了一个称心如意的合作伙伴。
Jīngguò duō cì cuòzhé, tā zhōngyú zhǎodào le yī gè chènxīnrúyì de hézuò huǒbàn.
After many setbacks, she finally found a business partner who was everything she could wish for.
