心悦诚服

心悅誠服

xīnyuè-chéngfú

idiom #41,238

Meanings

1 to be genuinely convinced
2 to submit willingly and wholeheartedly
3 to be truly won over

Characters

sincere, genuine

to submit, accept

Examples

HSK 6

他讲得有理有据，大家都心悦诚服。

Tā jiǎng de yǒulǐ yǒu jù, dàjiā dōu xīnyuèchéngfú.

He argued with reason and evidence; everyone was genuinely convinced.

HSK 7-9

只有以德服人，才能让人心悦诚服。

Zhǐyǒu yǐ dé fú rén, cáinéng ràng rén xīnyuèchéngfú.

Only by winning people through virtue can you make them truly submit.

Tips

history

From Mencius (《孟子·公孙丑上》): 以力服人者，非心服也… 以德服人者，中心悦而诚服也 - 'submission gained by force is not heartfelt; submission gained by virtue is both glad and genuine.' The distinction between forced and willing acceptance is the point of the whole phrase.

Stroke Order

心 xīn

悦 yuè

诚 chéng

服 fú