以心换心
以心换心 (yǐ xīn huàn xīn) literally means “exchange heart for heart” and expresses “treat others as yourself”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: yi xin huan xin, yi xin huan xin,以心换心 meaning, 以心换心 in english
Treat others as yourself
Pronunciation: yǐ xīn huàn xīn Literal meaning: Exchange heart for heart
Origin & Usage
To exchange (换) one heart (心) for another, using (以) your own as the thing you give. The image is of trust as a swap rather than a demand: you put your own candour in first and take the other person's in return. This is a common set phrase rather than a classical idiom — it has no locus classicus and no story behind it, and the sentiment it expresses is much older than the wording. It usually turns up as advice about repairing a relationship, and often in the fuller form 以心换心，将心比心.
Examples
English: "She always remembers to help those who helped her"
Chinese: 她总是记得回报帮助过她的人
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
以和为贵
yǐ hé wéi guì
Value harmony above all
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同舟共济
tóng zhōu gòng jì
Face challenges together
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风雨同舟
fēng yǔ tóng zhōu
Share hardships together
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一模一样
yī mú yī yàng
Exactly identical
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海纳百川
hǎi nà bǎi chuān
Accept all with open mind
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春风化雨
chūn fēng huà yǔ
Gentle, nurturing influence
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爱屋及乌
ài wū jí wū
Love extends to all connections
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雪中送炭
xuě zhōng sòng tàn
Help in time of need
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 以心换心 mean in English?
以心换心 (yǐ xīn huàn xīn) literally translates to “Exchange heart for heart” and is used to express “Treat others as yourself”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 以心换心 used?
Situation: She always remembers to help those who helped her
What is the pinyin for 以心换心?
The pinyin pronunciation for 以心换心 is “yǐ xīn huàn xīn”.
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