胸怀 (xiōng huái) — (noun) one's bosom (figurative seat of emotions… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Noun: one's breadth of mind or spirit (胸怀宽广 = broad-minded). Verb: to cherish or hold ideals in the heart — similar to 怀抱 but more formal and rarely used for a physical embrace.

noun

one's bosom (figurative seat of emotions)broad-mindednessopen-mindedness

verb

to cherishto hold (ideals, aspirations) in one's heart

Examples

胸怀，。
Tā de xiōng huái fēi cháng kuān guǎng, néng tīng bù tóng rén de yì jiàn.
He is very broad-minded and can listen to different people's opinions.
胸怀，。
Tā xiōng huái zhe yuǎn dà de lǐ xiǎng, nǔ lì gōng zuò.
He cherishes great ideals and works hard.
胸怀，。
Zhǐ yǒu chǎng kāi xiōng huái, cái néng jiē shòu xīn péng you.
Only by opening your heart can you accept new friends.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

胸 chest and 怀 bosom together refer to inner feelings and open capacity.

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

肉肉ròumeat

Sound part声符shēngfú

匈

匈xiōng胸xiōng

Same sound today

胸 adds 肉 (meat/flesh) to the original form 匈, which provides the sound.

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.

Appears in

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