下狠心

xiàhěnxīn

phrase #90,827

Meanings

1 to resolve (to do something difficult)
2 to harden one's heart
3 to make up one's mind

Characters

put down / make

ruthless / hard

Examples

HSK 4

我下狠心把旧家具全卖了。

Wǒ xiàhěnxīn bǎ jiù jiājù quán mài le.

I steeled myself and sold off all the old furniture.

HSK 5

要减肥就得下狠心。

Yào jiǎnféi jiù děi xiàhěnxīn.

If you want to lose weight, you have to be tough on yourself.

HSK 7-9

他终于下狠心戒烟了。

Tā zhōngyú xiàhěnxīn jièyān le.

He finally made up his mind to quit smoking.

Tips

usage

Used when a decision requires overcoming reluctance or sentiment. Compare with 下决心 (make a determined decision), which is neutral; 下狠心 specifically suggests cruelty toward oneself or harshness toward something one would rather not give up.

Stroke Order

下 xià

狠 hěn

心 xīn