心里有数

心裡有數

xīnlǐyǒushù

idiom #23,310

Meanings

1 to know the score
2 to have a clear idea in mind
3 to know what's going on

Characters

inside / within

Examples

你心里有数吗？这件事很复杂。

Nǐ xīnlǐ yǒu shù ma? Zhè jiàn shì hěn fùzá.

Do you know what you're dealing with? This matter is quite complicated.

他表面上不说，其实心里有数。

Tā biǎomiàn shàng bù shuō, qíshí xīnlǐ yǒu shù.

He doesn't say it out loud, but he knows the score.

考试前她已经心里有数，胸有成竹。

Kǎoshì qián tā yǐjīng xīnlǐ yǒu shù, xiōng yǒu chéng zhú.

Before the exam she already had a clear picture in her mind and was fully confident.

Tips

memory

心里 (in the heart/mind) + 有数 (have a count / have numbers) — imagine having all the numbers tallied up in your head already. You know exactly how things stand.

Stroke Order

心 xīn

里 lǐ

有 yǒu

数 shù