心向往之

xīnxiàng-wǎngzhī

idiom

Meanings

HSK 4

对于这样的生活，他早已心向往之。

Duìyú zhèyàng de shēnghuó, tā zǎoyǐ xīnxiàng-wǎngzhī.

He has long yearned for that kind of life.

HSK 6

提到西藏，很多人心向往之。

Tídào Xīzàng, hěnduō rén xīnxiàng-wǎngzhī.

Tibet is a place many people long to visit.

history

From 《史记·孔子世家》: 虽不能至，然心向往之 - 'though I cannot reach it, my heart yearns for it'. Sima Qian's praise of Confucius.

Literary and elegant. Strong positive longing, often for a place, ideal, or lifestyle.

心 xīn

向 xiàng

往 wǎng

之 zhī