n.
in the heart; in the mind; at heart
心里
in the heart; in the mind; at heart
Literally 'inside the heart' (心 heart/mind + 里 inside). Refers to inner thoughts, feelings, or one's private mindset; say 心里想.
Common Usage & Traps
- 心里不舒服 — feel upset or emotionally uncomfortable
- 心里高兴 — feel happy inside
- 心里想 — think to oneself
- 记在心里 — keep in mind; remember
- 心里明白 — know inside; understand without saying
- 说心里话 — speak honestly; say what is really on one's mind
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心高兴心里高兴心 alone often means the physical heart or a set phrase heart. For inner feelings, Chinese uses 心里 as the emotional space.
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在心里不舒服心里不舒服Emotions do not take 在 before 心里. 在 is for things you put, keep, or remember: 记在心里, 放在心里.
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记心里记在心里When you mean keep something in mind, 在 is required. Without it, the phrase sounds clipped and unnatural.
Can you say 心很高兴 for 'I feel happy'?
No. Use 心里高兴 or 我心里很高兴—心 alone sounds like a physical organ.
心里 is the inner space where feelings and thoughts happen. 心 alone is the physical heart or a set phrase heart. So 心很高兴 sounds like a body part is happy, not you. For emotions, put 心里 before the feeling.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Emotion | 心里高兴 / 心里难受 | 心高兴 |
| Body part | 心脏 / 心 | 心里 |
| Set phrase | 心里话 | 心话 |
What does 心里 add to 不舒服?
It turns a physical-sounding complaint into an emotional one.
不舒服 alone usually points to your body: a cold, headache, or stomach trouble. When the problem is feelings, Chinese adds 心里: 心里不舒服 means upset, hurt, or bothered. In the story, the old Beijingers are not physically ill. They are unhappy about the changes around them.
“看着这，老北京们心里当然不舒服。” (Seeing this, old-time Beijingers naturally feel uncomfortable about it.)
“看着这，老北京们心里当然不舒服。” (Seeing this, old-time Beijingers naturally feel uncomfortable about it.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Physical illness | 身体不舒服 / 我不舒服 | 心里不舒服 for a fever |
| Emotional upset | 心里不舒服 / 心里难受 | 身体不舒服 for bad news |
| Story context | 老北京们心里当然不舒服 | 老北京们身体不舒服 |
Why is it 记在心里, not 记心里?
记在心里 needs 在; feelings like 心里难受 do not.
记在心里, 放在心里, and 留在心里 treat 心里 like a container for thoughts. These phrases need 在. Feelings and inner states do not: 心里难受, 心里高兴, 心里想. Adding 在 to a feeling sounds like an exact physical location.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Keep in mind | 记在心里 | 记心里 |
| Emotional pain | 心里难受 | 在心里难受 |
Appears in Stories 2 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
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挂了电话，小李看着窗外， 心里 有点儿难过。
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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看着这，老北京们 心里 当然不舒服。
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