想得开 (xiǎng de kāi) — to take things philosophically; to not let worries get to one; to be able to let go

Definition

A fixed phrase meaning 'to take something in stride' — to accept a loss, setback, or insult without brooding. Often negated as 想不开 when someone cannot let go.

verb
to take things philosophicallyto not let worries get to oneto be able to let go

Examples

  • 想得开，。
    Tā zhè rén hěn xiǎng de kāi, bù guǎn yù dào shén me shì dōu bú fàng zài xīn shàng.
    He takes things philosophically; no matter what happens he never dwells on it.
  • 想得开，。
    Nǐ xiǎng de kāi yì diǎn, bié wèi zhè diǎn xiǎo shì shēng qì.
    Try to take it easy; don't get upset over such a small thing.
  • 想得开，。
    Tā duì shī yè hěn xiǎng de kāi, hěn kuài jiù zhǎo dào le xīn gōng zuò.
    She took being laid off philosophically and soon found a new job.

Origin

Characters in this word

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, mind
Sound part声符shēngfú
相
相xiāng想xiǎng
Same sound today

想 has 心 (heart, mind) below 相 (to look at); the shape shows the mind looking at or considering something, and 相 also gives the sound.

Open 想 →

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

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

Open 得 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
  • 廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →

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