心悦诚服

心悅誠服

xīnyuèchéngfú

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

他讲得有理有据，大家都心悦诚服。

Tā jiǎng de yǒu lǐ yǒu jù, dàjiā dōu xīn yuè chéng fú.

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

只有以德服人，才能让人心悦诚服。

Zhǐyǒu yǐ dé fú rén, cái néng ràng rén xīn yuè chéng fú.

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