无动于衷
无动于衷 (wú dòng yú zhōng) literally means “no movement in the heart” and expresses “unmoved; indifferent”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: wu dong yu zhong, wu dong yu zhong,无动于衷 meaning, 无动于衷 in english
Unmoved; indifferent
Pronunciation: wú dòng yú zhōng Literal meaning: No movement in the heart
Origin & Usage
No (无) movement (动) in (于) what is innermost (衷). 衷 is specifically the inside of a person, the part not on display, so the phrase reports an absence at a depth the observer cannot actually see — which is why it is always an inference and sometimes an unjust one. Chinese uses it far more often as a criticism than as praise: the situation called for a reaction and none came. Composure is available as a reading, but it is not the one anybody reaches for first.
Examples
English: "He remained unmoved by all the emotional appeals."
Chinese: 面对所有情感诉求，他无动于衷。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
言不由衷
yán bù yóu zhōng
Speak without meaning it
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一如既往
yī rú jì wǎng
As always; unchanged
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乐于助人
lè yú zhù rén
Find genuine pleasure in helping others
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惊心动魄
jīng xīn dòng pò
Thrilling, hair-raising
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不痛不痒
bù tòng bù yǎng
Ineffective and inconsequential
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泰然自若
tài rán zì ruò
Maintain perfect composure under pressure
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有条不紊
yǒu tiáo bù wěn
Methodical and well-organized action
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小心翼翼
xiǎo xīn yì yì
Act with extreme caution and care
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 无动于衷 mean in English?
无动于衷 (wú dòng yú zhōng) literally translates to “No movement in the heart” and is used to express “Unmoved; indifferent”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 无动于衷 used?
Situation: He remained unmoved by all the emotional appeals.
What is the pinyin for 无动于衷?
The pinyin pronunciation for 无动于衷 is “wú dòng yú zhōng”.