满怀信心 (mǎn huái xìn xīn) — to be full of confidence; to have every confidence

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'full of confidence,' used in written or formal contexts (often modifying verbs with 地 or taking 对 / 在 phrases). Functions more like a stative expression than an action verb.

verb
to be full of confidenceto have every confidence

Examples

  • 满怀信心。
    Tā duì zhè cì kǎo shì mǎn huái xìn xīn.
    He is full of confidence about this exam.
  • 满怀信心，。
    Quán tǐ yuán gōng mǎn huái xìn xīn, yíng jiē xīn de tiǎo zhàn.
    All employees are full of confidence, facing new challenges.
  • 满怀信心。
    Tā mǎn huái xìn xīn dì zǒu shàng jiǎng tái.
    She walked onto the podium full of confidence.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

满怀fill the chest
满mǎnfill怀huáichest
动宾Verb + object
信心confidence
信xìnconfidence心xīnheart
偏正Modifier + head

The image of 满 and 怀 as a filled chest combines with 信 and 心 as confidence in the mind.

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.

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.

Open 满 →

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 懷; 怀 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
褱
褱huái懷huái
Same sound today

The traditional form 懷 uses 心 (heart) to show longing and 褱 for the sound; the simplified 怀 is a later shorthand.

Open 怀 →

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
言言yánwords
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén信xìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →

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 →

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