📖 Meaning
To devote one's whole mind and attention to a single task. It describes being completely absorbed and single-mindedly concentrated, with no distractions dividing one's focus. The idiom emphasizes total mental dedication to achieving a goal.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the Mengzi (《孟子·告子上》), a Warring States period text by the philosopher Mencius (孟子, 372–289 BCE). Mencius uses the example of learning the board game Go (弈), taught by the master Qiu (弈秋), to illustrate that even a minor skill cannot be mastered without undivided attention. He contrasts two students: one who concentrates fully and one whose mind wanders to imagine shooting a swan. The story teaches that success in any pursuit demands single-minded devotion, giving rise to the idiom.
💡 Example Usage
他专心致志地研究这道难题，连晚饭都忘了吃。
He devoted himself so completely to solving the difficult problem that he even forgot to eat dinner.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 专心致志
- Pinyin: zhuān xīn zhì zhì
- Literal Translation: focus, mind, attain, will
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4