Chinese Conversation · Level 55
90 words
Chinese word
心虚
Pronunciation
Pinyinxīn xū
Meaning
- adjectiveguilty
Example
你别说得那么自信，我看你心虚。nǐ bié shuō de nà me zì xìn wǒ kàn nǐ xīn xū
Don't sound so confident. I think you feel guilty.
More examples
考试被问到时，他笑得有点心虚。kǎo shì bèi wèn dào shí tā xiào de yǒu diǎn xīn xū
When asked a question during the exam, he smiled a little guiltily.
Core concept
An inner sense of weakness that makes a person uneasy and hesitant when a hidden mistake may come to light.
Common phrases
感到心虚gǎn dào xīn xū
feel guilty
显得心虚xiǎn de xīn xū
look guilty
笑得有点心虚xiào de yǒu diǎn xīn xū
smile a little guiltily
Similar words
内疚nèi jiù: Feeling deep guilt and inner pain after doing something wrong.
羞愧xiū kuì: Feeling painful shame about personal words or actions.
尴尬gān gà: Feeling uncomfortable because a social setting has become tense or embarrassing.
不安bù ān: Feeling unsettled because of worry about the future or a current situation.
Definition in Chinese
因为做了或说了不妥的事而内心不踏实，怕被揭穿，因而说话或行为显得紧张、退缩。yīn wèi zuò le huò shuō le bù tuǒ de shì ér nèi xīn bú tā shí pà bèi jiē chuān yīn ér shuō huà huò xíng wéi xiǎn de jǐn zhāng tuì suō
Word origin
心 (xīn, "heart") + 虚 (xū, "empty or weak") builds the image of an inner state lacking firmness, which explains the word's uneasy feeling when exposure seems possible.
Usage tips
- This adjective can be used teasingly when someone's nervous behavior looks suspicious, so it may sound less like a formal accusation and more like pointed banter.