心服口服 (xīn fú kǒu fú) — to be thoroughly convinced; to admit defeat wholeheartedly

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'convinced in both heart and mouth' — total, wholehearted agreement or admission of defeat. Used when someone is persuaded deeply, not just outwardly. Adjective/adverbial: 佩服 is just 'admire'; this goes further into full concession.

idiom
to be thoroughly convincedto admit defeat wholeheartedly

Examples

  • ，心服口服。
    Tā shuō dé yǒu lǐ yǒu jù, wǒ tīng le zhī hòu zhēn shì xīn fú kǒu fú.
    What he said was well reasoned and well evidenced, so after listening I was truly convinced.
  • 心服口服。
    Zhè chǎng biàn lùn ràng duì shǒu shū dé xīn fú kǒu fú.
    This debate made the opponent admit defeat with heartfelt conviction.
  • 心服口服，。
    Nǐ de jiě shì ràng wǒ xīn fú kǒu fú, wǒ wán quán tóng yì nǐ de kàn fǎ.
    Your explanation convinced me completely; I fully agree with your view.

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.

心服heart submits
心xīnheart服fúsubmit
主谓Subject + predicate
口服mouth submits
口kǒumouth服fúsubmit
主谓Subject + predicate

心服 and 口服 both show submission, one from the heart and one from the mouth, giving sincere conviction.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
凡凡fántray
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬝
𠬝𠬝服fú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 服, the part 𠬝 was the original picture for 'to subdue'; the added left part 凡, a tray, later changed shape.

Open 服 →

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

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

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
凡凡fántray
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬝
𠬝𠬝服fú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 服, the part 𠬝 was the original picture for 'to subdue'; the added left part 凡, a tray, later changed shape.

Open 服 →

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