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天真无邪 (tiān zhēn wú xié) — (idiom) innocent and pure, having a childlike innocence

Definition

Literally 'naive without evil': used for children or adults who keep a childlike, untouched innocence. Often modifies eyes, smiles, or heart in writing.

idiom
innocent and purehaving a childlike innocence

Examples

  • 天真无邪，。
    Tā lù chū tiān zhēn wú xié de xiào róng, ràng rén gǎn dào wēn nuǎn.
    He showed an innocent smile that made people feel warm.
  • 天真无邪。
    Hái zi yòng tiān zhēn wú xié de yǎn shén kàn zhe mā ma.
    The child looked at her mother with innocent eyes.
  • ，天真无邪。
    Tā suī rán zhǎng dà le, dàn yī rán bǎo chí zhe yì kē tiān zhēn wú xié de xīn.
    Although she has grown up, she still keeps an innocent heart.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
邑邑yìtown; city
Sound part声符shēngfú
牙
牙yá邪xié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

邪 puts 牙 beside 邑 (town; city): 牙 gives the sound, and 邑 shows it was first used in a place name. It was later used for strange or evil meanings.

Open 邪 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesPersonality & Traits

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