📖 Meaning
This idiom means to reveal one's sincere and innermost feelings to others. '披露' means to disclose or make known, while '腹心' refers to one's true heart and genuine intentions. It describes the act of showing complete sincerity and holding nothing back.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase originates from the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms' (三国志), specifically the Biography of Fa Zheng (法正) in the Book of Shu (蜀志). Fa Zheng was a brilliant strategist who served the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period. The original text notes that from beginning to end, one disclosed one's true heart, concealing no feelings whatsoever. The phrase reflects the high value placed on sincerity and mutual trust in both political alliances and personal relationships during that turbulent era.
💡 Example Usage
他向老友披露腹心，说出了多年来藏在心底的话。
He laid bare his heart to his old friend, speaking of the words he had kept hidden inside for years.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 披露腹心
- Pinyin: pī lù fù xīn
- Literal Translation: drape open, expose, belly, heart
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4