居心

jūxīn

verb #33,747

Meanings

1 to harbor (intentions, usually evil)
2 to have an ulterior motive
3 (literary) to keep one's heart at rest

Characters

to dwell; to harbor

Examples

他这样做居心何在？

Tā zhèyàng zuò jūxīn hé zài?

What's his ulterior motive in doing this?

居心叵测的人很可怕。

Jūxīn-pǒcè de rén hěn kěpà.

People with sinister motives are terrifying.

Tips

usage

居心 almost always carries negative connotation — it implies hidden, usually evil, intent. The fixed phrase 居心叵测 (jūxīn-pǒcè, 'sinister and unfathomable intentions') is its most common form. Don't use it for innocent intentions.

Stroke Order

居 jū

心 xīn