悦目赏心

yuè mù shǎng xīn
Literal: "pleases the eyes, delights the heart"

📖 Meaning

To find visual pleasure in beautiful scenery that brings comfort and joy to one's heart. It describes the pleasant feeling of satisfaction and delight when appreciating something visually appealing.

📜 Origin Story

This phrase appears in Ye Shengtao's novel 'Ni Huanzhi' (倪焕之), published in 1928, a landmark work of modern Chinese literature. In Chapter 17, the narrator describes how the blooming of hibiscus flowers on the farm was regarded as a delightful pleasure that pleased both the eyes and the heart. The expression captures the aesthetic satisfaction of enjoying natural beauty.

💡 Example Usage

春天到了,满园鲜花盛开,令人悦目赏心。

When spring arrives and flowers bloom throughout the garden, it delights both the eyes and the heart.

🏷️ Category

➕ Similar Idioms

➖ Opposite Idioms

🔤 Quick Facts

  • Chinese: 悦目赏心
  • Pinyin: yuè mù shǎng xīn
  • Literal Translation: pleases the eyes, delights the heart
  • Category: Emotion
  • Characters: 4