一心一意/ yī xīn yī yì - Chengyu
Wholeheartedly; To be Devoted
The chengyu 一心一意/ yī xīn yī yì is one of the more intuitive chengyu used in Mandarin Chinese. Both its literal and figurative translations convey a single-minded devotion or affection to a given subject.
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一 | yī | One |
| 心 | xīn | Heart |
| 一 | yī | One |
| 意 | yì | Mind |
One Heart; One Mind
Meaning and usage
This chengyu signifies wholehearted dedication or single-minded focus, involving both one's heart and mind. It is used in both colloquial and professional settings to imply the notion of accomplishment or fulfilment that follows giving full effort and attention to worthwhile tasks or causes.
In formal contexts, 一心一意 often carries a complementary tone, suggesting a sense of commitment and rigor to the subject it references.
Examples
他一心一意地学习普通话。 He is devoted to learning Mandarin Chinese.
他一心一意想成为医生。 He is determined to become a doctor.
李老师一心一意地教学生。Teacher Li is wholeheartedly teaching her students.
In modern Chinese culture, devotion and dedication to study, career, and personal goals are esteemed virtues, deeply rooted in the teachings of Confucius. The idiom 一心一意 captures this cultural value perfectly, reminding us of the importance of focusing our heart and mind on our goals.
If you're on your own Mandarin learning journey - whether you just started today or you're a polyglot who has lived in China for 15 years - you'll find insightful and opinionated reviews, introductions to Chinese culture, and my first-hand perspectives every step of the way.
You can join the mailing list (it's free!) and get updates straight to your inbox on this site, follow me on Instagram @mandarinresource or email me josh@mandarinresource.com.
