心血来潮
心血来潮 (xīn xuè lái cháo) literally means “heart's blood comes in a tide” and expresses “acting on a sudden impulse or whim”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: xin xue lai chao, xin xue lai chao,心血来潮 meaning, 心血来潮 in english
Acting on a sudden impulse or whim
Pronunciation: xīn xuè lái cháo Literal meaning: Heart's blood comes in a tide
Origin & Usage
The heart's blood (心血) coming in like a tide (来潮). The physiology is that of Chinese medicine, where the heart governs the blood and also the mind, so a surge in one is a surge in the other. What the phrase describes is therefore an impulse with a bodily cause and no reason behind it. The tone is neutral and often self-deprecating, in the construction 一时心血来潮 — on a sudden whim — usually to explain something that turned out badly.
Examples
English: "On a whim, she decided to book a flight to Paris."
Chinese: 她心血来潮，决定订一张去巴黎的机票。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
呕心沥血
ǒu xīn lì xuè
Invest utmost effort and emotion
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刻骨铭心
kè gǔ míng xīn
Deeply and permanently affected
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心猿意马
xīn yuán yì mǎ
Restless, unfocused mind
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提心吊胆
tí xīn diào dǎn
Constant dread; unable to stop worrying
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称心如意
chèn xīn rú yì
Perfectly satisfying every expectation
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掉以轻心
diào yǐ qīng xīn
Lower one's guard
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口是心非
kǒu shì xīn fēi
Words differ from thoughts
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胆大心细
dǎn dà xīn xì
Courage balanced with careful attention
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 心血来潮 mean in English?
心血来潮 (xīn xuè lái cháo) literally translates to “Heart's blood comes in a tide” and is used to express “Acting on a sudden impulse or whim”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 心血来潮 used?
Situation: On a whim, she decided to book a flight to Paris.
What is the pinyin for 心血来潮?
The pinyin pronunciation for 心血来潮 is “xīn xuè lái cháo”.