When you hear 「心猿意马」 (xīnyuányìmǎ), think of a "heart ape, mind horse." It's like your heart is a jumping ape and your mind is a galloping horse—neither can stay still! This idiom describes someone who is restless, easily distracted, or can't make up their mind.
Imagine you're trying to study, but your mind keeps wandering to what's for dinner, then to your friend's party, and then to a funny video you saw online. That's a perfect example of 「心猿意马」! It means your focus is all over the place, just like a restless monkey and a wild horse.
When we say someone is 心猿意马 (xīnyuányìmǎ), we mean their heart is like a restless monkey and their mind is like a galloping horse. This idiom describes someone who is very fidgety and can't stay still or focus on one thing.
It often refers to a person who is easily distracted and changes their mind a lot, or is simply very restless and has difficulty settling down. For example, if you're trying to study but keep thinking about other things, you might be 心猿意马. This phrase is a vivid way to describe someone who is capricious or has a wandering mind.
Alright, let's get into how to actually use 心猿意马 (xīnyuányìmǎ) in your Chinese conversations. This isn't a super common word for beginners, but it's really useful for describing someone who just can't sit still or focus.
§ Basic Sentence Structure
心猿意马 is primarily an adjective, so you'll often see it directly describing a person or their state of mind. You can use it after a linking verb like 是 (shì - to be) or 显得 (xiǎnde - to appear), or directly before a noun if it's modifying it, though this is less common.
他上课的时候总是心猿意马。
Translation hint: He always [restless and fidgety] during class.
§ Expressing a 'Capricious' Nature
When you want to say someone is indecisive or changes their mind a lot, 心猿意马 fits perfectly. It implies a lack of steadfastness.
她买东西总是心猿意马，一会儿想买这个，一会儿想买那个。
Translation hint: She always [capricious] when shopping, first wants to buy this, then wants to buy that.
§ Using with '让' (ràng - to make/let)
You can also use 让 (ràng) to describe something that causes someone to be 心猿意马.
这么多选择让我心猿意马。
Translation hint: So many choices [make] me [restless/indecisive].
§ Common Situations for Use
Here are some common situations where 心猿意马 fits well:
- **When someone can't concentrate:** Studying, working, listening to a lecture.
- **When someone is indecisive:** Shopping, making plans, choosing a path.
- **When someone is generally restless:** Just can't settle down.
- DEFINITION
- Restless and fidgety; capricious.
Let's look at a few more examples to really get the hang of it.
小明今天看起来有点心猿意马，他是不是有什么烦恼？
Translation hint: Xiao Ming looks a bit [restless] today, does he have some worries?
在做重要决定时，不要心猿意马。
Translation hint: When making important decisions, don't be [capricious/indecisive].
So, when you want to describe someone who can't keep their mind on one thing, or who changes their mind frequently, 心猿意马 is your go-to phrase. Practice using it in your sentences to make your Chinese sound more natural and expressive!
§ Understanding 心猿意马
When you're learning Chinese, you'll find many words that seem to have similar meanings. 心猿意马 (xīnyuán yì mǎ) is one of those. It literally means 'mind like a restless monkey, thoughts like a runaway horse.' It describes someone who is restless, fidgety, or whose mind wanders and can't focus. It's often used for someone who is flighty or indecisive.
- DEFINITION
- Restless and fidgety; capricious.
Let's look at some situations where you'd use 心猿意马:
他上课的时候总是心猿意马，不能专心听讲。(Tā shàngkè de shíhou zǒngshì xīnyuán yì mǎ, bù néng zhuānxīn tīngjiǎng.) - He's always restless during class and can't concentrate on listening.
她对未来有很多想法，但是总是心猿意马，不知道该选择哪一个。(Tā duì wèilái yǒu hěnduō xiǎngfǎ, dànshì zǒngshì xīnyuán yì mǎ, bù zhīdào gāi xuǎnzé nǎ yīgè.) - She has many ideas for the future, but she's always capricious and doesn't know which one to choose.
§ Similar Words and When to Use Them
Let's compare 心猿意马 with some other words that are close in meaning:
- 三心二意 (sānxīn èryì): This idiom literally means 'three hearts, two minds.' It's very similar to 心猿意马 and also describes someone who is indecisive, wavering, or half-hearted.
他做事总是三心二意，很难完成。(Tā zuòshì zǒngshì sānxīn èryì, hěn nán wánchéng.) - He always acts with divided intentions, making it hard to complete things.
- 浮躁 (fúzào): This adjective means 'impetuous, restless, volatile, flighty.' It describes a state of mind where someone is easily agitated, impatient, and can't settle down. It can also describe a general social atmosphere.
年轻人都比较浮躁，需要多加磨练。(Niánqīng rén dōu bǐjiào fúzào, xūyào duō jiā móliàn.) - Young people are generally more impetuous and need more tempering.
- 朝三暮四 (zhāosānmùsì): This idiom literally means 'three in the morning and four in the evening.' It describes someone who is fickle, changeable, or always changing their mind, especially to get a small, immediate advantage, even if the overall outcome is the same.
他总是朝三暮四，没有自己的主见。(Tā zǒngshì zhāosānmùsì, méiyǒu zìjǐ de zhǔjiàn.) - He's always fickle and doesn't have his own strong opinions.
§ Key Takeaway
While these words share some common ground, 心猿意马 specifically highlights an uncontrollable mental restlessness and a mind that just can't settle or focus. When you want to describe someone whose thoughts are all over the place, like a wild monkey and a runaway horse, 心猿意马 is the perfect choice.
수준별 예문
他今天有点心猿意马，不能专心工作。
He is a bit restless today and cannot focus on work.
小狗看到新玩具，心猿意马地跑来跑去。
The puppy, restless, ran around when it saw the new toy.
她最近总是心猿意马，不知道想做什么。
She's been restless lately, not knowing what she wants to do.
孩子们在课堂上心猿意马，老师很难管。
The children were restless in class, and the teacher found it hard to manage.
我的思绪心猿意马，很难集中注意力。
My thoughts are restless and it's hard to concentrate.
比赛前，他心猿意马，一直动来动去。
Before the game, he was restless, constantly moving.
她总是心猿意马，不能长时间做一件事。
She is always restless and can't do one thing for a long time.
别心猿意马了，好好听老师讲课。
Don't be restless, listen carefully to the teacher's lecture.
문법 패턴
관용어 및 표현
"一见钟情"
Love at first sight.
他们俩一见钟情，很快就结婚了。(They fell in love at first sight and got married quickly.)
neutral"知己知彼"
Know yourself and know your enemy; know the enemy and know yourself.
知己知彼，百战不殆。(Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.)
formal"杯水车薪"
A drop in the bucket; utterly inadequate.
这点钱对解决问题来说是杯水车薪。(This little money is just a drop in the bucket for solving the problem.)
neutral"画蛇添足"
To draw a snake and add feet; to overdo it; to ruin the effect by adding something superfluous.
这个设计已经很完美了，再修改就是画蛇添足。(This design is already perfect; any further modification would be overdoing it.)
neutral"井底之蛙"
A frog in a well; a person with a limited outlook.
他总是固执己见，像个井底之蛙。(He is always stubborn and opinionated, like a frog in a well.)
informal"对牛弹琴"
To play the lute to a cow; to talk over someone's head; to waste good advice on an unappreciative listener.
跟他说这些真是对牛弹琴。(Talking about these things with him is like playing the lute to a cow.)
informal"亡羊补牢"
To mend the fold after the sheep are gone; to take action after suffering a loss.
现在虽然晚了，但亡羊补牢，为时不晚。(Although it's late now, it's never too late to mend the fold after the sheep are gone.)
neutral"入乡随俗"
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
到了国外，我们应该入乡随俗。(When we go abroad, we should do as the Romans do.)
neutral"三心二意"
To be of two minds; to be irresolute; half-hearted.
他总是三心二意，做事情没法专心。(He is always of two minds and can't focus on anything.)
informal"脚踏实地"
To be down-to-earth; to be earnest and practical.
他工作很脚踏实地，值得信赖。(He is very down-to-earth in his work and is trustworthy.)
neutral문장 패턴
他/她很心猿意马。
他今天很心猿意马，总是坐不住。 (He is very restless today, always unable to sit still.)
你为什么心猿意马？
你为什么总是心猿意马，不能专心学习？ (Why are you always restless and can't focus on studying?)
因为...所以...心猿意马。
因为他压力太大，所以最近总是心猿意马。 (Because he is under too much pressure, he has been restless recently.)
别心猿意马，集中注意力。
别心猿意马了，快点把作业做完。 (Don't be restless, finish your homework quickly.)
心猿意马地做...
他心猿意马地听着报告，一点也没听进去。 (He listened to the report distractedly, not taking in anything.)
让...心猿意马。
这个消息让他心猿意马，不知道该怎么办。 (This news made him restless, not knowing what to do.)
虽然...但是...心猿意马。
虽然他努力想专心，但是心里还是心猿意马。 (Although he tried hard to concentrate, he was still restless.)
在...的时候，心猿意马。
在重要的考试前，我总是会心猿意马。 (Before important exams, I always feel restless.)
사용법
心猿意马 (xīn yuán yì mǎ) is a vivid idiom often used to describe someone who is restless, easily distracted, or has a capricious mind. Think of a monkey (猿) swinging around and a horse (马) galloping freely – that’s the image this idiom conjures. It implies a lack of focus or a wavering attention span. You might use it to describe someone who can't settle down to work, or someone whose thoughts jump from one thing to another.
A common mistake is to translate it too literally. While 'heart monkey mind horse' gives you a sense of the components, it doesn't convey the meaning of restlessness or capriciousness. Another mistake is to use it for physical restlessness when the primary meaning is mental or emotional. While it can imply some physical fidgeting, the core is about a wandering mind or indecisiveness. It's also generally used for people, not objects.
암기하기
기억법
Imagine a **heart (心)** that's like a **monkey (猿)**, constantly jumping around, and a **mind (意)** that's like a **horse (马)**, galloping in all directions. This vivid image captures the essence of being restless and fidgety.
시각적 연상
Picture a monkey swinging wildly from branches, unable to stay still, and a horse constantly pawing the ground, eager to run. When someone is '心猿意马,' their mind and heart are behaving similarly—unfocused and restless.
Word Web
챌린지
Think about situations where you or someone you know might be '心猿意马.' For example, when you're trying to study but your mind keeps wandering, or when you're waiting for important news and can't focus on anything else. Write a few sentences describing these scenarios using '心猿意马.' Example 1: 考试前，他总是心猿意马，无法专心复习。(Before the exam, he was always restless and fidgety, unable to concentrate on reviewing.) Example 2: 孩子们玩了一天，晚上睡觉时还是心猿意马。(After playing all day, the children were still restless and fidgety when it was time to sleep.)
셀프 테스트 12 질문
他坐不住，总是很___。
The sentence describes someone who can't sit still, which aligns with 'restless and fidgety'.
上课的时候，小明总是___，不能集中注意力。
The phrase '不能集中注意力' (cannot concentrate) indicates a 'restless and fidgety' state.
别再___了，快点决定！
The context '快点决定!' (make a decision quickly!) suggests that the person is being 'capricious' or indecisive.
她对待工作总是___，一会儿想做这个，一会儿想做那个。
The description '一会儿想做这个，一会儿想做那个' (wants to do this for a while, then that for a while) fits the 'capricious' meaning of the idiom.
因为他___，所以经常换工作。
Constantly changing jobs implies a 'restless' or 'capricious' nature.
孩子还小，总是___，玩一会儿就想换新的玩具。
Children often change their interests quickly, reflecting a 'restless' or 'capricious' behavior.
Describe a time you felt restless or couldn't concentrate on something. Use '心猿意马' in your description.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我今天学习的时候心猿意马，总是想玩手机，不能专心。
Imagine you have a friend who is very indecisive and keeps changing their mind. Write a short sentence describing their behavior using '心猿意马'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我的朋友总是心猿意马，做不了决定。
Complete the sentence: '因为他总是心猿意马，所以他...' (Because he is always restless and fidgety, so he...)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
因为他总是心猿意马，所以他不能把事情做好。
小明上课的时候怎么样？
Read this passage:
小明今天上课的时候，总是看着窗外，一会儿玩笔，一会儿又摸摸头发。老师问他问题，他也不知道答案。老师说他上课有点心猿意马。
小明上课的时候怎么样？
文章中描述小明总是看着窗外，一会儿玩笔，一会儿又摸摸头发，这都说明他心猿意马，不能专心。
文章中描述小明总是看着窗外，一会儿玩笔，一会儿又摸摸头发，这都说明他心猿意马，不能专心。
为什么做这份工作不能心猿意马？
Read this passage:
这个工作需要你非常细心和有耐心，不能心猿意马。如果你总是改变主意，就很难完成任务。
为什么做这份工作不能心猿意马？
文章中明确提到“如果你总是改变主意，就很难完成任务”，这说明心猿意马会影响工作的完成。
文章中明确提到“如果你总是改变主意，就很难完成任务”，这说明心猿意马会影响工作的完成。
作者昨天晚上为什么什么也没做成？
Read this passage:
我昨天晚上想了很多事情，一会儿想工作，一会儿想出去玩。我觉得自己真是心猿意马，结果什么也没做成。
作者昨天晚上为什么什么也没做成？
作者说自己“一会儿想工作，一会儿想出去玩”，并且“觉得自己真是心猿意马”，所以什么也没做成。
作者说自己“一会儿想工作，一会儿想出去玩”，并且“觉得自己真是心猿意马”，所以什么也没做成。
/ 12 correct
Perfect score!
관련 콘텐츠
이 단어를 다른 언어로
emotions 관련 단어
有点
A1A little; somewhat; rather.
一点
A1A little; a bit; slightly.
可恶
A2Hateful; detestable; abominable.
心不在焉
A2Absent-minded; preoccupied.
接受地
A2Acceptingly; receptively.
成就感
B1Sense of achievement; fulfillment.
撒娇
A2To act like a spoiled child; to act cute.
上瘾
B1To be addicted to something.
沉迷
A2To be addicted to; to be engrossed in.
敬佩
B1Admiration; respect; reverence.
