恻隐之心(惻隱之心)
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 & character.
Also searched as: ce yin zhi xin, ce yin zhi xin,恻隐之心 meaning, 恻隐之心 in english
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.
When to Use
Situation: His innate sense of compassion moved him to help the stranger.
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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 theRelationships & Character category..
When is 恻隐之心 used?
Situation: His innate sense of compassion moved him to help the stranger.
What is the pinyin for 恻隐之心?
The pinyin pronunciation for 恻隐之心 is “cè yǐn zhī xīn”.