心领神会 (xīn lǐng shén huì) — to understand tacitly; to take a hint readily

Definition

A chengyu meaning to grasp a meaning instantly without it being spelled out — 'understand tacitly, take a hint.' Often used when a look, half-sentence, or gesture is enough for full comprehension.

idiom
to understand tacitlyto take a hint readily

Examples

  • ，心领神会，。
    Tā men liǎ xiāng shì yí xiào, xīn lǐng shén huì, bú yòng duō shuō yí jù huà.
    The two of them exchanged a smile, understanding each other tacitly, without needing to say another word.
  • ，心领神会。
    Lǎo shī zhī shuō le bàn jù huà, wǒ jiù yǐ jīng xīn lǐng shén huì le.
    The teacher only said half a sentence, and I already understood tacitly.
  • ，心领神会。
    Tā duì wǒ shǐ le gè yǎn sè, wǒ lì kè xīn lǐng shén huì.
    He gave me a wink, and I immediately caught the hint.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

心领mind grasps
心xīnmind领lǐnggrasp
主谓Subject + predicate
神会spirit understands
神shénspirit会huìunderstand
主谓Subject + predicate

心领 (mind grasps) and 神会 (spirit understands) stand side by side for tacit understanding without words.

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 領; 领 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yè
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng領lǐng
Same sound today

The traditional form 領 has 令 as a sound part and 頁 as a meaning part; the simplified 领 is a later shorthand.

Open 领 →

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
示示shìgod; deity
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn神shén
Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Open 神 →

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 會; 会 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
合合héto meet
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡆧
𡆧𡆧會huì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Traditional 會 pairs 合 (to meet) with 𡆧, an original form for ironware, to give the sound. The simplified 会 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 会 →

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