Chinese word

定心丸

Pronunciation

Pinyindìng xīn wán

Meaning

  • nounreassurance

Example

我先给你吃个定心丸，别担心。wǒ xiān gěi nǐ chī gè dìng xīn wán bié dān xīn

I'll give you some reassurance first, so don't worry.

Illustration for 定心丸 (reassurance)

More examples

听妈妈这样说，我心里像吃了颗定心丸。tīng mā mā zhè yàng shuō wǒ xīn lǐ xiàng chī le kē dìng xīn wán

When I heard my mother say that, it felt like I had been given reassurance.

Core concept

A promise, action, or sign that settles worried feelings and restores confidence.

Common phrases

  • 吃定心丸chī dìng xīn wán

    get reassurance

  • 服用定心丸fú yòng dìng xīn wán

    take reassurance

  • 当作定心丸dàng zuò dìng xīn wán

    treat as reassurance

Similar words

安心ān xīn: A calm, worry-free feeling that comes when concerns have been put to rest.
安慰ān wèi: Comfort given through words or actions that ease anxiety or sadness.

Definition in Chinese

原本指中医中用来安定心神、缓解惊恐的丸剂，后引申为能使人放心或消除顾虑的话语、行为或事物。yuán běn zhǐ zhōng yī zhōng yòng lái ān dìng xīn shén huán jiě jīng kǒng de wán jì hòu yǐn shēn wèi néng shǐ rén fàng xīn huò xiāo chú gù lǜ de huà yǔ xíng wéi huò shì wù

Word origin

定 (dìng, "settle") + 心 (xīn, "mind") + 丸 (wán, "pill") names a traditional calming pill, and the word later extends to anything that settles worry.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it commonly describes reassurance offered before a decision or uncertain event, so it can refer to a statement, an action, or a concrete guarantee rather than only comforting words.

Related words

  • 定心dìng xīnreassureverb
  • 定心剂dìng xīn jìcalming agentnoun

Word lists with this word