心醉 (xīn zuì) — to be charmed, enchanted, fascinated

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to be enchanted, captivated'. Refers to a strong emotional pull — typically from beauty, art, or charm — and is far more formal and intense than the colloquial 着迷.

verb
to be charmedenchantedfascinated
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，心醉。
    Kàn dào nà piàn měi lì de fēng jǐng, wǒ wán quán xīn zuì le.
    Seeing that beautiful scenery, I was completely enchanted.
  • 。
    Tā de gē shēng ràng rén xīn zuì.
    Her singing is enchanting.
  • 心醉。
    Zhè shǒu shī dú qǐ lái lìng rén xīn zuì.
    This poem is captivating to read.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

心xīnheart
醉zuìintoxicated

心 is the heart and 醉 means intoxicated, so 心醉 describes being enchanted.

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
酉酉yǒualcoholic drink
Sound part声符shēngfú
卒
卒zú醉zuì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

醉 combines 酉, a sign for alcoholic drink, with 卒, which supplies the sound.

Open 醉 →

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