操心

• Pinyin: cāo xīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 操 = 扌(hand) + 喿 (phonetic); 心 = pictograph of a heart

Meaning

To worry; to take pains over something; to expend mental energy on others' affairs.

Often used with 为/替 to indicate who or what one is worrying about. Can be used positively (devotedly minding something) or as mild criticism (meddling in others' affairs). Very common in spoken Chinese.

Examples

1. 妈妈总是为孩子的学习和生活操心，自己的身体反而顾不上了。 Mum is always worrying about the children's studies and lives, leaving no time to attend to her own health.
2. 这件事你不用操心，我已经安排妥当了，放心吧。 You do not need to worry about this — I've already made all the arrangements, so rest easy.
3. 他退休之后依然改不了爱操心的习惯，逢人便问东问西。 Even after retiring he could not shake his habit of worrying, asking everyone he met all sorts of questions.

Usage Guide

Context: family, everyday, work, emotion

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 你别为我操心了，我都这么大了，能照顾好自己。(Stop worrying about me — I'm grown up now and can take care of myself.)
• 孩子上大学以后，父母反而更操心了，一天到晚发消息问冷暖。(After the kids go to university, parents actually worry more — messaging all day asking if they are warm enough.)

Don't Say

• 他操心地睡着了。(操心 is a mental/emotional state, not a physical condition that leads directly to sleep; restructure the sentence)

Origin & History

操 (to handle, exercise) + 心 (heart/mind). Literally 'to work one's mind/heart' — to exert mental effort in concern for something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal