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扣人心弦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
扣人心弦kòurénxīnxiánto exciteHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #31026, Very Hard
扣人心弦kòurénxīnxiánto thrillHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #31026, Very Hard
扣人心弦kòurénxīnxiánexcitingHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #31026, Very Hard
扣人心弦kòurénxīnxiánthrillingHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #31026, Very Hard
扣人心弦kòurénxīnxiáncliff-hangingHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #31026, Very Hard
kòurénxīnxián(kou4ren2xin1xian2)kou ren xin xian T4
  1. 1to excite
  2. 2to thrill
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March 24, 2026

扣人心弦kòurénxīnxián(kou4ren2xin1xian2)

The idiom 扣人心弦 (kòu rén xīn xián) describes something that deeply touches or excites a person's emotions, often in a thrilling or suspenseful way. It is commonly used in contexts such as literature, film, and music to convey that a story or performance captivates the audience's attention and stirs their feelings.

Strokes20Frequency#31026DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, storytelling has a long tradition, and phrases like 扣人心弦 reflect the importance of engaging the audience emotionally. This idiom can often be heard in discussions about popular dramas or novels that evoke strong feelings.

Memory tip

Imagine a musician plucking the strings of a heart-shaped instrument; each note resonates deeply, '扣' (kòu) sounds like 'pluck' and '人' (rén) means 'person'. The '心' (xīn) represents the heart and '弦' (xián) signifies strings, creating a vivid image of how something can grip your heart and emotions.

Meanings of 扣人心弦

kòurénxīnxián(kou4ren2xin1xian2)
1to excite
2to thrill
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About 扣人心弦

扣人心弦Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 扣人心弦

Quick Contrast

扣人心弦 vs 触动心弦: Use 扣人心弦 for thrilling emotional engagement, while 触动心弦 emphasizes a more gentle emotional touch.

Usage Notes

This idiom is often used in informal contexts, such as conversations about movies or books. Be careful not to confuse it with similar expressions that may imply a different type of excitement or thrill. The tone should be enthusiastic to match the excitement conveyed by the phrase.

HSK Study Tips

While 扣人心弦 is not at a specific HSK level, it can be useful for learners at HSK 4 and above as they explore more complex idiomatic expressions. Students should focus on understanding its usage in various contexts, especially in describing emotional experiences.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 扣人心弦 to describe mundane or everyday experiences, which would be incorrect. For instance, saying '这顿饭扣人心弦' (This meal is thrilling) would not be appropriate; a better phrase would be '这顿饭很好吃' (This meal is delicious).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 扣人心弦

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Component characters

扣kòuto fasten
HSK 66 strokes扌
View full entry
人rénman
HSK 12 strokes人
View full entry
心xīnheart
HSK 44 strokes心
View full entry
弦xiánbow string
HSK 78 strokes弓
View full entry

How to say to excite in Chinese

“to excite” in Chinese is扣人心弦kòurénxīnxián

The idiom 扣人心弦 (kòu rén xīn xián) describes something that deeply touches or excites a person's emotions, often in a thrilling or suspenseful way. It is commonly used in contexts such as literature, film, and music to convey that a story or performance captivates the audience's attention and stirs their feelings.

When to use 扣人心弦

This idiom is often used in informal contexts, such as conversations about movies or books. Be careful not to confuse it with similar expressions that may imply a different type of excitement or thrill. The tone should be enthusiastic to match the excitement conveyed by the phrase.

扣人心弦 or something close to it

扣人心弦 vs 触动心弦: Use 扣人心弦 for thrilling emotional engagement, while 触动心弦 emphasizes a more gentle emotional touch.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 扣人心弦 to describe mundane or everyday experiences, which would be incorrect. For instance, saying '这顿饭扣人心弦' (This meal is thrilling) would not be appropriate; a better phrase would be '这顿饭很好吃' (This meal is delicious).

Write 扣人心弦

扣
人
心
弦

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Frequently asked questions about 扣人心弦

No, 扣人心弦 specifically refers to something that is exciting or emotionally gripping.

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