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人之常情 (rén zhī cháng qíng) — a perfectly normal human reaction; something understandable given human nature

Definition

A set phrase for a reaction that is completely normal and understandable given human nature — used to excuse or explain a feeling rather than judge it.

noun
a perfectly normal human reactionsomething understandable given human nature

Examples

  • 人之常情。
    Péng you lí kāi shí gǎn dào nán guò shì rén zhī cháng qíng.
    It's a normal human reaction to feel sad when a friend leaves.
  • ，人之常情。
    Tā tīng dào hǎo xiāo xi hòu gāo xìng dé tiào qǐ lái, zhè yě shì rén zhī cháng qíng.
    He jumped for joy when he heard the good news — that's also a perfectly normal human reaction.
  • 人之常情，。
    Fù mǔ wèi hái zi cāo xīn shì rén zhī cháng qíng, bú yòng tài zài yì.
    Parents worrying about their children is a normal human feeling; don't take it too seriously.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng常cháng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

Open 常 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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