Chinese word

扣人心弦

Pronunciation

Pinyinkòu rén xīn xián

Meaning

  • idiomstirring

Example

这部电影的结局很扣人心弦。zhè bù diàn yǐng de jié jú hěn kòu rén xīn xián

The ending of this movie is very stirring.

Illustration for 扣人心弦 (stirring)

More examples

一段扣人心弦的旋律在剧场回荡，让人泪目。yí duàn kòu rén xīn xián de xuán lǜ zài jù chǎng huí dàng ràng rén lèi mù

A stirring melody echoed through the theater, bringing tears to people's eyes.

Core concept

A powerful emotional pull makes the heart feel as if its strings are being played, keeping feeling and attention engaged.

Common phrases

  • 剧情扣人心弦jù qíng kòu rén xīn xián

    gripping plot

  • 扣人心弦的旋律kòu rén xīn xián de xuán lǜ

    stirring melody

  • 那段对话扣人心弦nà duàn duì huà kòu rén xīn xián

    moving conversation

Similar words

动人心弦dòng rén xīn xián: Striking the heart and awakening powerful emotion.
感人至深gǎn rén zhì shēn: Creating a deep, unforgettable emotional impact.
令人动容lìng rén dòng róng: Causing such deep emotion that people show it openly.
感人肺腑gǎn rén fèi fǔ: Touching the innermost feelings with profound emotional force.

Definition in Chinese

使人的内心受到强烈感动或震动，使人情感被深深触动的成语。shǐ rén de nèi xīn shòu dào qiáng liè gǎn dòng huò zhèn dòng shǐ rén qíng gǎn bèi shēn shēn chù dòng de chéng yǔ

Word origin

扣人心弦 (kòurénxīnxián, "stirring") uses 扣 (kòu, "to strike") + 人 (rén, "people") + 心 (xīn, "heart") + 弦 (xián, "string") to picture art striking the strings of the human heart.

Usage tips

  • It commonly modifies a film, story, performance, or piece of music, and its polished written tone suits reviews and storytelling more than casual self-report.

Other meanings

  • grippingidiom

Opposites

  • 冷若冰霜lěng ruò bīng shuāngcold and unfeelingidiom
  • 漠不关心mò bù guān xīnindifferentidiom

Word lists with this word