心事

• Pinyin: xīn shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 心 = heart (pictograph); 事 = 亅 + 口 + 彐 (matters requiring attention)

Meaning

Something weighing on one's mind; a hidden worry or preoccupation. An unspoken concern that troubles the heart.

Used to describe inner worries one has not shared with others. Often appears in literary contexts and daily conversation about emotional states.

Examples

1. 她一整天都心不在焉，似乎有什么心事。 She was distracted all day, as if something were weighing on her mind.
2. 朋友看出他有心事，便拉他坐下谈了很久。 His friend could tell something was bothering him, so he sat him down and talked with him for a long time.
3. 老人独自坐在窗边，脸上写满了心事。 The elderly man sat alone by the window, his face full of unspoken worries.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, personal expression, literature

Tone: concerned

Do Say

• 你最近似乎有什么心事，有什么烦恼可以跟我说说。(You seem to have something weighing on your mind lately — feel free to share whatever is troubling you.)
• 经历了一夜的辗转反侧，他终于决定把心事倾诉给信任的挚友。(After a sleepless night of tossing and turning, he finally decided to confide his hidden worries to a trusted close friend.)

Don't Say

• 我的心事很多工作 — 心事 refers to emotional worries, not workload; say 工作很多 or 压力很大 instead

Origin & History

心 (heart) + 事 (matter/affair)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal