📖 Meaning
To be deeply grieved upon seeing something that stirs painful memories. The sight of a scene or object triggers overwhelming sorrow in one's heart, often tied to loss or nostalgia.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Southern Dynasties period, attributed to Emperor Wu of Liang (梁武帝) in his edict 'Posthumous Honors for Zhang Hongji' (追赠张弘籍诏). In the edict, the emperor reflects on his own youthful hardships and laments that, despite achieving success, he could not repay those who helped him. He writes that whenever he speaks of the past, the very sight of familiar things causes his heart to ache with grief. The phrase captures the universal experience of being emotionally overwhelmed by visual reminders of sorrowful events.
💡 Example Usage
故地重游，旧景触目恸心，他不禁潸然泪下。
Revisiting the old place, the familiar sights struck his heart with grief, and he could not help but shed tears.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 触目恸心
- Pinyin: chù mù tòng xīn
- Literal Translation: touch, eye, grieve, heart
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4