心如刀割

xīnrúdāogē

idiom

Meanings

1 heart feels like it is being cut by a knife
2 torn with grief
3 deeply heartbroken

Characters

Examples

听到母亲去世的消息，他心如刀割。

Tīngdào mǔqīn qùshì de xiāoxi, tā xīn rú dāo gē.

Hearing of his mother's death, his heart was torn with grief.

看着孩子受苦，父母心如刀割。

Kànzhe háizi shòukǔ, fùmǔ xīn rú dāo gē.

Watching their child suffer, the parents felt their hearts cut to pieces.

Tips

usage

Reserved for real, severe grief — bereavement, serious illness of loved ones. Using it for small disappointments sounds theatrical.

Stroke Order

心 xīn

如 rú

刀 dāo

割 gē