心

xīn

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

xīn (noun) heart

xīn (noun) mind; thoughts

xīn (noun) intention

xīn (noun) center; core

Etymology

Pictograph of a human's heart.

About

心 is a pictograph of a human heart: a central curved stroke ending in a hook and three surrounding dots, suggesting the organ's shape with its chambers and vessels. Because early Chinese thought located both cognition and emotion in the heart, the character refers to the physical heart as well as to the mind, feelings, and intentions. It serves as a foundational radical in many characters related to mental and emotional states.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Spring and Autumn (~600 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我今天很开心。

Wǒ jīntiān hěn kāixīn.

I am very happy today.

你要小心一点。

Nǐ yào xiǎoxīn yīdiǎn.

You need to be a little careful.

他心里很难过。

Tā xīnlǐ hěn nánguò.

He is very sad in his heart.

学习需要耐心。

Xuéxí xūyào nàixīn.

Studying requires patience.

她心地非常善良。

Tā xīndì fēicháng shànliáng.

She is very kind-hearted.

这件事让我心烦。

Zhè jiàn shì ràng wǒ xīnfán.

This matter makes me upset.

他的决心感动了所有人。

Tā de juéxīn gǎndòng le suǒyǒu rén.

His determination moved everyone.

心理卫生对健康很重要。

Xīnlǐ wèishēng duì jiànkāng hěn zhòngyào.

Mental hygiene is very important for health.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 心

Example Words