心向往之

xīnxiàngwǎngzhī

idiom

Meanings

Tí dào Xīzàng, hěn duō rén xīnxiàngwǎngzhī.

Tibet is a place many people long to visit.

Duìyú zhèyàng de shēnghuó, tā zǎoyǐ xīnxiàngwǎngzhī.

He has long yearned for that kind of life.

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