恻隐之心
恻隐之心 (cè yǐn zhī xīn) literally means “heart of compassionate concealment” and expresses “compassion; empathy for others”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: ce yin zhi xin, ce yin zhi xin,恻隐之心 meaning, 恻隐之心 in english
Compassion; empathy for others
Pronunciation: cè yǐn zhī xīn
Literal meaning: Heart of compassionate concealment
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes the heart (心) of compassion (恻隐). It comes from Mencius, who argued this feeling of pain at others' suffering is innate to all humans, proving human nature is fundamentally good. The phrase represents the instinctive sympathy that arises when witnessing others' distress. Modern usage describes natural compassion and empathy, the moral intuition that responds to suffering and motivates benevolent action.
Examples
English: "His innate sense of compassion moved him to help the stranger."
Chinese: 他的恻隐之心促使他帮助陌生人。
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
不远千里
bù yuǎn qiān lǐ
Willingly travel far; make great efforts
Learn more →
朝思暮想
zhāo sī mù xiǎng
Think about constantly; yearn for
Learn more →
魂牵梦萦
hún qiān mèng yíng
Yearn day and night
Learn more →
恋恋不舍
liàn liàn bù shě
Be deeply reluctant to leave
Learn more →
依依不舍
yī yī bù shě
Be reluctant to part
Learn more →
难分难舍
nán fēn nán shě
Be inseparable; hate to part
Learn more →
海枯石烂
hǎi kū shí làn
Until the end of time; eternal love
Learn more →
一见钟情
yī jiàn zhōng qíng
Love at first sight
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 恻隐之心 mean in English?
恻隐之心 (cè yǐn zhī xīn) literally translates to “Heart of compassionate concealment” and is used to express “Compassion; empathy for others”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 恻隐之心 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving compassion; empathy for others.
What is the pinyin for 恻隐之心?
The pinyin pronunciation for 恻隐之心 is “cè yǐn zhī xīn”.