Chinese word

心里话

Pronunciation

Pinyinxīn lǐ huà

Meaning

  • nountrue feelings

Example

你可以跟我说心里话吗？nǐ ké yǐ gēn wǒ shuō xīn lǐ huà ma

Can you tell me your true feelings?

Illustration for 心里话 (true feelings)

More examples

在朋友面前，他会坦白说出心里话。zài péng yǒu miàn qián tā huì tǎn bái shuō chū xīn lǐ huà

In front of his friends, he will openly share his true feelings.

Core concept

Words that open a person's private feelings and thoughts to a trusted listener.

Common phrases

  • 坦白心里话tǎn bái xīn lǐ huà

    confide one's true feelings

  • 表达心里话biǎo dá xīn lǐ huà

    express one's true feelings

Similar words

真心话zhēn xīn huà: Heartfelt words that show a person's honest feelings.
心声xīn shēng: Inner feelings or wishes expressed aloud.
实话shí huà: An honest statement of facts spoken plainly.

Definition in Chinese

是指私下对熟悉的人表达的内心真实感受或意见的言语，作名词使用。shì zhǐ sī xià duì shú xī de rén biǎo dá de nèi xīn zhēn shí gǎn shòu huò yì jiàn de yán yǔ zuò míng cí shǐ yòng

Word origin

心里话 (xīnlǐhuà, "true feelings") combines 心 (xīn, "heart") + 里 (lǐ, "inside") + 话 (huà, "words"), presenting sincere personal expression as words from within.

Usage tips

  • In English, "open up" usually describes the act, whereas this Chinese noun labels the content revealed, so the action and its content take different grammatical forms.

Other meanings

  • inner thoughtsnoun
  • heartfelt wordsnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 心里话儿xīn lǐ huàrtrue feelingsnoun

Word lists with this word