人心向背

rénxīn-xiàngbèi

idiom

Meanings

1 whether the people support or oppose (idiom)
2 the sentiment of the populace
3 popular support for or against

Characters

heart; sentiment

to face toward; support

to turn one's back on; oppose

Examples

一个政权的存亡，取决于人心向背。

Yígè zhèngquán de cúnwáng, qǔjuéyú rénxīnxiàngbèi.

Whether a regime survives depends on which way the people lean.

这次选举的结果反映了人心向背。

Zhècì xuǎnjǔ de jiéguǒ fǎnyìng le rénxīnxiàngbèi.

The result of this election reflects where popular sentiment stands.

Tips

history

Recorded in Ming-dynasty 《典故纪闻》卷四: 天命去留，人心向背，皆决于是 — a ruler's fate, the writer argues, is decided by whether people face him (向) or turn their backs (背).

register

Formal, used in political, historical, and editorial writing. 向 = support, face toward; 背 = oppose, turn one's back. Often paired with 决定, 取决于, 反映.

Stroke Order

人 rén

心 xīn

向 xiàng

背 bēi