虚心

• Pinyin: xū xīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 虚 = 虍 (tiger) + 业 (empty), meaning empty/modest; 心 = pictograph of a heart

Meaning

Humble; open-minded; modest. Willing to learn from others without arrogance.

A valued quality in Chinese culture emphasizing receptiveness to learning and criticism. Often paired with 学习 (learn) or 接受 (accept). The opposite of 骄傲 (proud/arrogant). Commonly used in educational and professional contexts to encourage continuous improvement.

Examples

1. 虚心使人进步，骄傲使人落后。 Humility leads to progress; pride leads to falling behind.
2. 他很虚心地接受了老师的批评。 He humbly accepted his teacher's criticism.
3. 不管你多成功，都要保持虚心的态度。 No matter how successful you are, you should maintain a humble attitude.

Usage Guide

Context: education, workplace, self-improvement

Tone: encouraging

Do Say

• 我们要虚心向前辈学习。(We should humbly learn from our seniors.)
• 虚心听取别人的意见很重要。(It's important to be open-minded and listen to others' opinions.)

Don't Say

• 你要虚心一点 to a superior (This can sound condescending — only appropriate from senior to junior)

Origin & History

Compound of 虚 (empty, humble) and 心 (heart), meaning an empty/humble heart ready to learn.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal