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醉心 (zuì xīn) — to be deeply absorbed in; to be devoted to

Definition

醉心 (zuìxīn) means being mentally 'drunk' on something — deeply absorbed and passionate about an intellectual or creative pursuit. Takes 于 to introduce the object (醉心于研究).

verb
to be deeply absorbed into be devoted to

Examples

  • 醉心。
    Tā zuì xīn yú yán jiū gǔ dài wén huà.
    He is deeply absorbed in studying ancient culture.
  • 醉心。
    Zhè wèi kē xué jiā yì shēng zuì xīn yú huà xué shí yàn.
    This scientist spent his whole life devoted to chemical experiments.
  • 醉心，。
    Tā zuì xīn yú tán gāng qín, měi tiān liàn xí hǎo jǐ gè xiǎo shí.
    She is devoted to playing the piano, practicing several hours every day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

醉zuìintoxicate
心xīnheart

醉 (intoxicate) and 心 (heart) combine as intoxicating the heart, hence deep devotion.

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
酉酉yǒualcoholic drink
Sound part声符shēngfú
卒
卒zú醉zuì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

醉 combines 酉, a sign for alcoholic drink, with 卒, which supplies the sound.

Open 醉 →

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 & Feelings

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