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
This idiom comes from traditional Chinese medicine concepts where the heart (心) was believed to govern blood (血) circulation and emotions. When blood rushes to the heart like a tide (潮), it was thought to cause sudden impulses or inspirations. The phrase gained literary currency during the Ming Dynasty in novels describing characters acting on sudden urges. In modern usage, it describes impulsive decisions or sudden whims, carrying a neutral to slightly cautionary tone about acting without deliberation.
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
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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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”.