不得人心

bùdé-rénxīn
idiom #49,463

Meanings

  1. 1 to lack popular support
  2. 2 to be unpopular
  3. 3 to fail to win people's hearts

Examples

Zhèxiàng zhèngcè hěn bùdérénxīn.
This policy is deeply unpopular.
Tā zuòshì dúduànzhuānxíng, yuèláiyuè bùdérénxīn.
He acts autocratically and is losing people's support by the day.
Yāzhà yuángōng de gōngsī chízǎo huì bùdérénxīn.
A company that exploits its employees will sooner or later lose everyone's goodwill.

Tips

history
From the Tang-era historical record 《唐书·》: general Geshu Han warned the emperor that An Lushan "不得人心" — though he had seized the north, he had not won the people's hearts. Used of rulers, policies, and organizations losing legitimacy.
usage
Describes things (policies, leaders, decisions) — not personal dislike between individuals. Antonym: 深得人心 (to deeply win people's hearts).

Stroke Order

de
rén
xīn