心满意足 (xīn mǎn yì zú) — to be perfectly content and satisfied | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

An idiom meaning 'completely content' — both heart and wishes are satisfied. Stronger than 满意 alone, with a literary, storybook feel.

idiom

to be perfectly content and satisfied

Examples

，心满意足。
Chī le zhè dùn fàn, tā xīn mǎn yì zú dì lí kāi le.
After this meal, he left feeling perfectly satisfied.
，心满意足。
Kàn dào hái zi kǎo shàng dà xué, fù mǔ zhōng yú xīn mǎn yì zú le.
Seeing their child get into university, the parents were finally content.
心满意足，。
Tā duì xiàn zài de shēng huó hěn xīn mǎn yì zú, bù xiǎng zài gǎi biàn shén me.
He is perfectly satisfied with his current life and doesn't want to change anything.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

心满heart full

心xīnheart满mǎnfull

主谓Subject + predicate

意足mind content

意yìmind足zúcontent

主谓Subject + predicate

心满 (heart full) and 意足 (mind content) together express complete contentment.

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.

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 滿; 满 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

㒼

㒼㒼滿mǎn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 滿 pairs 水, showing water, with 㒼, giving the sound. The simplified 满 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

足 was originally drawn as a leg.

Appears in

Emotions & Feelings Idioms & Set Phrases

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