心
heart
At a glance · 心
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
「心」甲骨文象心脏之形，金文小篆一脉相承。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
「心」本义为心脏，引申心思、精神、中心。
Structure
象形字，象心脏轮廓及血络，本为心脏、心思。
At a glance
Pinyinxīn
Radical心
Strokes4
UnicodeU+5FC3
Character type象形
Theme人体
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
heart
heart; mind, intelligence; soul; 5th lunar mansion, determinative star α Scorpii (Antares)
Français
cœur / esprit
Cœur, esprit. «心动神疲» : l'esprit agité fatigue l'âme.
Español
corazón / mente
Corazón, mente. «心动神疲»: la mente agitada fatiga el alma.
العربية
قلب / عقل
قلب، عقل. «心动神疲»: الذهن المتقلّب يُعيي الروح.
Русский
сердце / разум
Сердце, разум. «心动神疲»: беспокойный ум утомляет душу.
Common words
- 心情xīn qíngmood
- 小心xiǎo xīncareful