好奇心

• Pinyin: hào qí xīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 好 = 女 + 子 (like); 奇 = 大 (large) + 可 (can) — strange/unusual; 心 = heart

Meaning

Curiosity; inquisitiveness. The desire to know or learn about something unknown.

Widely regarded as a virtue in education and science. Often collocates with 强烈的好奇心 (strong curiosity) and 满足好奇心 (satisfy curiosity). Also appears in the saying 好奇心害死猫 (curiosity killed the cat).

Examples

1. 强烈的好奇心驱使她不断探索未知的领域。 A strong sense of curiosity drove her to keep exploring the unknown.
2. 保持好奇心是终身学习的重要动力之一。 Staying curious is one of the key motivations for lifelong learning.
3. 孩子们天生具有旺盛的好奇心，对周围的一切都充满疑问。 Children are naturally full of curiosity and have questions about everything around them.

Usage Guide

Context: education, science, personal growth

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 科学研究离不开强烈的好奇心和敢于质疑的精神。(Scientific research cannot do without strong curiosity and the courage to question.)
• 好奇心让他在退休后依然坚持学习新事物。(Curiosity kept him learning new things even after retirement.)

Don't Say

• 好奇心 to mean 'nosiness' — 八卦 or 爱打听 better captures intrusive prying into others' affairs

Origin & History

好奇 (curious) + 心 (heart/mind) — the state of being curious

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal