Chinese word

心事

Pronunciation

Pinyinxīn shì

Meaning

  • nounworry

Example

她最近很沉默，肯定有心事。tā zuì jìn hěn chén mò kěn dìng yǒu xīn shì

She has been very quiet lately; she must have something on her mind.

Illustration for 心事 (worry)

More examples

她把心事告诉了母亲，觉得轻松多了。tā bǎ xīn shì gào sù le mǔ qīn jué de qīng sōng duō le

She told her mother her worries and felt much more relieved.

Core concept

A private matter that occupies the mind while remaining outside open conversation.

Common phrases

  • 把心事告诉朋友bǎ xīn shì gào sù péng yǒu

    tell a friend one's worries

  • 倾诉心事qīng sù xīn shì

    confide one's worries

  • 有心事yǒu xīn shì

    have something on one's mind

Similar words

烦恼fán nǎo: A troubling worry or problem that leaves the mind uneasy.
忧虑yōu lǜ: An anxious concern about what may happen or how something will turn out.
顾虑gù lǜ: A concern about possible effects that makes someone careful or hesitant about an action or decision.
心结xīn jié: A lingering unresolved problem or hurt that remains locked in the heart.

Definition in Chinese

心事是指藏在心里、不轻易向人说的忧虑、挂念或难过。xīn shì shì zhǐ cáng zài xīn lǐ bù qīng yì xiàng rén shuō de yōu lǜ guà niàn huò nán guò

Word origin

心事 (xīnshì, "an inner concern") joins 心 (xīn, "heart") + 事 (shì, "matter"), giving a personal worry or feeling the shape of a matter carried inward.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, asking 你有心事吗 (nǐ yǒu xīnshì ma, "Do you have something on your mind?") shows concern, but the question can sound intrusive between strangers.

Other meanings

  • concernnoun
  • inner thoughtsnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word