虚心

xū xīn

HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 5 Adjective Rare

Definitions

1. open-minded
2. humble

Word relationships

Antonyms

2 items

• 骄傲 jiāo ào 骄傲 jiāo ào pride 骄傲 means arrogant or conceited, opposite of being open-minded and humble.: pride
• 自满 zì mǎn 自满 zì mǎn complacent 自满 means complacent or self-satisfied, a direct antonym to 虚心.: complacent

Related words

1 item

• 骄傲 jiāo ào 骄傲 jiāo ào pride Frequently contrasted with 虚心 in phrases like 虚心使人进步，骄傲使人落后 (modesty helps one go forward, whereas conceit makes one lag behind).: pride

Synonyms

1 item

• 谦虚 qiān xū 谦虚 qiān xū modest Both mean humble, but 虚心 emphasizes being receptive to advice, while 谦虚 is a general modesty.: modest

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Learners often confuse 虚心 with 谦虚; use 虚心 when emphasizing willingness to learn from others, not just modesty in demeanor.

Cultural notes

In Chinese culture, 虚心 is highly valued; the idiom 虚心使人进步 reflects the belief that humility enables personal growth.

Example Sentences

1 shown

我们应该 虚心 听取别人的意见。

We should humbly listen to others' opinions.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 虚心

• 虚心使人进步，骄傲使人落后 虚心使人进步，骄傲使人落后 xū xīn shǐ rén jìn bù , jiāo ào shǐ rén luò hòu: modesty leads to progress, arrogance makes you fall behind (quote of Mao Zedong)
• 虚心好学 虚心好学 xū xīn hào xué: modest and studious (idiom)

Child Words of 虚心

• 心 心 xīn: heart
• 虚 虚 xū: emptiness