不得人心 (bù dé rén xīn) — not enjoy popular support; be unpopular

Definition

Set phrase meaning 'unpopular' — a policy, leader, or action that has lost the people's favor. Often followed by 而 to introduce the consequence (被迫下台, 被取消).

adjective
not enjoy popular supportbe unpopular

Examples

  • 不得人心，。
    Zhè ge zhèng cè bù dé rén xīn, hěn kuài jiù bèi qǔ xiāo le.
    This policy was unpopular and was soon cancelled.
  • 不得人心，。
    Tā de zuò fǎ bù dé rén xīn, hěn duō rén biǎo shì fǎn duì.
    His approach is unpopular; many people have expressed opposition.
  • 不得人心。
    Nà wèi zǒng tǒng yīn wèi bù dé rén xīn ér bèi pò xià tái.
    That president was forced to step down because he lacked popular support.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

Open 得 →

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

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 →

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