铁心肠

鐵心腸

tiěxīncháng

idiom

Meanings

Yīshēng děi yǒu diǎn tiěxīncháng, bùrán kàn duō le zhēn shòu bu liǎo.

A doctor needs a bit of an iron heart, otherwise you just can't bear all that you see.

Zài tiěxīncháng de rén, jiàn dào zhè zhǒng chǎngmiàn yě huì dòngróng.

Even the most iron-hearted person would be moved by a scene like this.

usage

Usually neutral-to-positive — strength of resolve. Compare 狠心 (cruel, negative) and 心肠硬 (a bit harsher). A doctor, judge, or soldier might need 铁心肠.

铁 tiě

心 xīn

肠 cháng