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激动人心 (jī dòng rén xīn) — exciting, thrilling, stirring, inspiring (of events, performances, etc.)

Definition

A formal written idiom meaning 'exciting / stirring' — used for speeches, performances, and events that strongly move an audience. Stronger and more literary than plain 让人激动.

idiom
excitingthrillingstirringinspiring (of events, performances, etc.)

Examples

  • 激动人心，。
    Zuó wǎn de yīn yuè huì fēi cháng jī dòng rén xīn, guān zhòng dōu zhàn qǐ lái gǔ zhǎng.
    Last night's concert was so thrilling that the audience all stood up and applauded.
  • 激动人心，。
    Duó guàn de nà yí kè zhēn shì jī dòng rén xīn, měi gè rén dōu jī dòng dé kū le.
    The moment of winning the championship was truly inspiring — everyone was moved to tears.
  • 激动人心，。
    Zhè piān yǎn jiǎng tè bié jī dòng rén xīn, ràng wǒ jiǔ jiǔ bù néng wàng jì.
    This speech was especially stirring; I couldn't forget it for a long time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

激动stir
激jīstir动dòngmove
联合Coordinate
人心human hearts
人rénhuman心xīnheart
偏正Modifier + head

'激动' stir + '人心' human hearts gives stirring hearts.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
敫
敫jiǎo激jī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 激, the 氵 side marks water, and 敫 gives the sound jiǎo; the original sense is water swashing.

Open 激 →

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

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 →
Appears in
Emotions & FeelingsIdioms & Set Phrases

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