心里有数 (xīn lǐ yǒu shù) — to know the score; to be well aware of the situation

Definition

Set phrase meaning 'to know the score' — you clearly understand a situation or know how you'll handle it, even without saying so out loud. Often used to reassure others or hint that you've already thought something through.

verb
to know the scoreto be well aware of the situation

Examples

  • 心里有数。
    Tā duì gōng sī de cái wù zhuàng kuàng xīn lǐ yǒu shù.
    He knows the company's financial situation well.
  • ,心里有数。
    Bié dān xīn, wǒ xīn lǐ yǒu shù.
    Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.
  • 心里有数,。
    Tā xīn lǐ yǒu shù, zhǐ shì bù shuō chū lái.
    She knows the score but just doesn't say it.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ裡lǐ
Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.

Open 里 →

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu數shù(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

Open 数 →

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