心里 xīnlǐ in one's heart
chest; heart; mind
How to remember 心里: 心 heart + 里 in = in one's heart.
Characters
How it is used
- 'In one's heart/mind,' the seat of inner feelings - 我心里很难过 (wǒ xīnlǐ hěn nánguò) I feel very sad inside, 心里想 (xīnlǐ xiǎng) think to oneself.
- Careful homophone trap: 心理 (xīnlǐ) with 理 means 'psychology/mental (state).' 心里 = inside the heart; 心理 = psychological. Same sound, different character and job.
Example sentences
- 他在心里反复思量这件事。 Tā zài xīnlǐ fǎnfù sīliáng zhèjiàn shì.He turned over the matter in his mind.
- 我心里充满着快乐。 Wǒ xīnlǐ chōngmǎn zhe kuàilè.My heart was filled with happiness.
- 究竟怎么做，心里应该先有个大谱儿。 Jiūjìng zěnme zuò, xīnli yīnggāi xiān yǒu ge dà pǔr.Before you start anything, you ought to have a general idea of what you’re going to do.