称心 (chèn xīn) — satisfactory, agreeable; meeting one's expectations

Definition

称心 describes something that meets your wishes or expectations — a personal, emotional fit rather than a neutral 'good enough'. Often used in set phrases like 称心如意.

adjective
satisfactoryagreeablemeeting one's expectations

Examples

  • 称心。
    Zhè fèn gōng zuò hěn chèn xīn.
    This job is very satisfactory.
  • 称心。
    Tā zhǎo dào le yí gè chèn xīn de bàn lǚ.
    He found an agreeable partner.
  • 称心。
    Tā duì xiàn zài de zhù chù hěn chèn xīn.
    She is very satisfied with her current residence.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

称chēngsatisfy
心xīnheart

称 (satisfy) and 心 (heart) together mean satisfying one's heart.

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 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
爯
爯chēng稱chēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

Open 称 →

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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