Meaning
心 is a fundamental character meaning 'heart' both as the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, thoughts, and intentions. In Chinese philosophy and everyday language, the heart and mind are not separated—心 encompasses both feelings and consciousness.
Usage
心 appears in countless compounds related to emotions, mental states, and intentions. It's rarely used alone in modern spoken Chinese, but is extremely productive in compounds like 心情 (mood), 关心 (to care about), and 小心 (be careful). Native speakers use it to express psychological and emotional concepts.
Examples
- 01我心里很高兴。.I'm very happy in my heart.
- 02你要用心学习。.You need to study attentively.
Measure words
- 颗一颗心
Common collocations
- 心里in one's heart/mind
- 用心to put effort into; attentively
- 死心to give up hope
- 心中in one's heart
Origin
心 is a pictograph depicting the human heart with its chambers and vessels. The character's shape resembles the anatomical heart, making it one of the most recognizable radicals in Chinese writing.