心安理得

• Pinyin: xīn ān lǐ dé
• Hanzi breakdown: 心 = heart; 安 = 宀 + 女 (woman under a roof — peace, settled); 理 = 王 + 里 (jade + village — reason, principle); 得 = 彳+ 旦 + 寸 (to obtain, to achieve)

Meaning

To feel at ease with a clear conscience; to have no qualms about something because it is justified or correct.

A four-character idiom (成语). Used when someone acts in a way that is morally or rationally sound, and therefore feels no guilt or anxiety. Can also be used ironically to describe someone who shamelessly feels no guilt despite wrongdoing.

Examples

1. 他认为自己的所作所为完全合乎道义，因此心安理得地接受了这份奖励。 He believed what he did was entirely morally justified, so he accepted the award with a clear conscience.
2. 只有把份内的事情做好，我们才能真正心安理得地休息。 Only when we do what’s expected of us can we truly rest with a clear conscience.
3. 他明知对方是弱势群体却仍强行谋利，竟还心安理得，实在令人不齿。 He knew full well the other party was vulnerable, yet still tried to profit by force—and he even felt justified. It’s truly disgraceful.

Usage Guide

Context: ethics, self-reflection, everyday, irony

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 只要我们尽了最大的努力，无论结果如何，都可以心安理得。(As long as we have done our very best, we can rest easy with a clear conscience regardless of the outcome.)
• 他拿着不属于自己的功劳心安理得，完全不顾同事的感受，这种行为令人心寒。(He accepted credit that was not his with complete equanimity, utterly disregarding his colleagues' feelings — such behaviour is deeply chilling.)

Don't Say

• 心安理得 meaning 'relaxed and comfortable' — it specifically refers to moral/rational justification, not physical ease; use 轻松自在 for physical comfort

Origin & History

心安 (heart at peace) + 理得 (reason/logic is satisfied) — one's conscience is clear because the logic/reasoning supports the action

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal