📖 Meaning
To be genuinely convinced both inwardly and outwardly. It describes a situation where someone not only verbally agrees but also truly believes in their heart, showing sincere submission or acceptance. The phrase emphasizes authentic conviction rather than forced compliance.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase traces back to the Daoist text Zhuangzi (《庄子》), specifically the chapter 'Fable' (寓言). In the original passage, Zhuangzi discusses how presenting arguments about right and wrong may only win people's verbal agreement, but true persuasion must make them submit in their hearts without daring to oppose. The idea is that superficial persuasion only convinces the mouth, while genuine virtue and truth convince the heart. This concept was later condensed into the four-character idiom '心服口服' to express wholehearted conviction.
💡 Example Usage
听了他的详细分析后，大家都心服口服，不再有异议。
After hearing his detailed analysis, everyone was genuinely convinced and raised no further objections.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 心服口服
- Pinyin: xīn fú kǒu fú
- Literal Translation: heart, submit, mouth, submit
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4