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称心如意 (chèn xīn rú yì) — (idiom) completely satisfactory; exactly as one wishes; after one's own heart

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'completely to one's liking' — a state of being, not the act of fulfilling a wish (use 如愿以偿 for that). Compare 圆满, which emphasizes completeness, while 称心如意 emphasizes personal satisfaction.

idiom
completely satisfactoryexactly as one wishesafter one's own heart

Examples

  • 称心如意。
    Zhè fèn xīn gōng zuò ràng tā jué de fēi cháng chèn xīn rú yì.
    This new job makes him feel very satisfied.
  • 称心如意。
    Tā zhōng yú zhǎo dào le chèn xīn rú yì de bàn lǚ.
    She finally found a partner after her own heart.
  • 称心如意，。
    Zhè ge fāng àn bìng bù chèn xīn rú yì, hái xū yào xiū gǎi.
    This plan is not satisfactory at all; it still needs revision.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

称心satisfy one's heart
称chēngsatisfy/match心xīnheart
动宾Verb + object
如意as one wishes
如rúas意yìwish
动宾Verb + object

称心 (satisfy the heart) and 如意 (match one's wishes) are joined, giving complete satisfaction.

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 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ如rú
Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

Open 如 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 意 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Emotions & FeelingsIdioms & Set Phrases

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