以心伝心

• 読み: いしんでんしん
• ローマ字: ishin denshin
• 漢字の分解: 以 (i) — by means of; 心 (shin/kokoro) — heart, mind (appears twice); 伝 (den/tsuta) — transmit
• 発音: /i.ɕin de̞n.ɕin/

意味

Telepathy; tacit understanding; heart-to-heart communication without words. Conveying meaning through pure mutual understanding.

A four-character compound (四字熟語) meaning communication directly from one mind or heart to another, without spoken language. 以 means 'by means of,' 心 means 'heart/mind,' 伝 means 'transmit,' and 心 again. Originally a Zen Buddhist concept for the direct transmission of enlightenment from master to disciple beyond words and concepts. Now used colloquially for any deep intuitive understanding between people.

例文

1. 長年連れ添った夫婦は、言葉なしに以心伝心で気持ちが通じ合う。
2. 双子の二人は以心伝心で、互いに何を考えているかすぐわかる。
3. 親友との間には以心伝心があり、一言で全てを察し合えた。

使い方ガイド

場面: relationships, friendship, romance, teamwork

トーン: warm, admiring

起源と歴史

A Zen Buddhist concept: the idea that true enlightenment cannot be transmitted through words but must pass directly from mind to mind (以心伝心). Attributed to the transmission of Dharma from Śākyamuni Buddha to Mahākāśyapa through a silent gesture — the origin of Zen.

文化的背景

時代: Classical-Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: General