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善心 (shàn xīn) — benevolence, kindness

Definition

善心 refers to a kind, charitable heart or the goodness within a person — closer to 'benevolence' than a single act of 善良.

noun
benevolencekindness

Examples

  • 善心，。
    Tā yǒu yì kē shàn xīn, jīng cháng bāng zhù bié rén.
    He has a benevolent heart and often helps others.
  • 善心。
    Tā de shàn xīn gǎn dòng le suǒ yǒu rén.
    Her kindness moved everyone.
  • 善心。
    Wǒ men yīng gāi yòng shàn xīn duì dài měi yí gè rén.
    We should treat everyone with benevolence.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

善shàngood
心xīnheart

善 (good) and 心 (heart) combine to mean a kind heart.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

An earlier form of 善 joined 羊, a sheep linked with goodness or beauty, and 誩, described as a wrangle; the reference says this meaning link is hard to understand.

Open 善 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 心 comes from a drawing of a heart, now highly stylized.

Open 心 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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