心旷神怡 (xīn kuàng shén yí) — carefree and happy (especially in a beautiful natural setting)

Definition

A literary chengyu meaning 'heart at ease, spirit joyful' — typically used for being uplifted by beautiful scenery, fresh air, or fine music. More elevated in tone than everyday words like 开心 or 高兴.

idiom
carefree and happy (especially in a beautiful natural setting)

Examples

  • ，，心旷神怡。
    Zhàn zài shān dǐng shàng, kàn zhe yuǎn chù de fēng jǐng, zhēn shì xīn kuàng shén yí.
    Standing on the mountaintop and looking at the distant scenery, I truly felt carefree and happy.
  • ，心旷神怡。
    Hú biān de kōng qì qīng xīn, ràng rén gǎn dào xīn kuàng shén yí.
    The fresh air by the lake makes one feel completely relaxed and joyful.
  • ，心旷神怡。
    Tīng dào zhè shǒu yōu měi de qǔ zi, tā xīn qíng xīn kuàng shén yí.
    Hearing this beautiful piece of music, his mood became carefree and happy.

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 曠; 旷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
廣
廣guǎng曠kuàng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 曠 pairs 日 (sun) with 廣 as a sound part; the simplified 旷 is a later shorthand, so its right side is not the historical 廣.

Open 旷 →

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
台
台tái怡⁰yí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

怡 uses 忄, a form of 心 (heart), together with 台, which shows how it is pronounced.

Open 怡 →

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