# 触景生情

chù jǐng shēng qíng

Have feelings stirred by a scene

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Encounter a scene and feelings arise

**Traditional Chinese:** 觸景生情

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe emotion or memories prompted by one's surroundings.

The feeling may be joyful, thoughtful, or wistful; context supplies it.

## The image & its use

A familiar street corner or a view of the sea can bring back feelings linked to an earlier experience. This expression describes the connection between the scene in front of a person and an emotional response. It does not specify a single mood. Someone may remember a happy outing, think about a change in life, or simply feel moved by a beautiful view. Give the relevant detail of the scene and the resulting feeling so the connection becomes clear.

## Examples

回到旧学校，她触景生情，想起了许多趣事。

### Traditional Chinese

回到舊學校，她觸景生情，想起了許多趣事。

huí dào jiù xué xiào ， tā chù jǐng shēng qíng ， xiǎng qǐ le xǔ duō qù shì 。

Returning to the old school stirred memories of many enjoyable moments.

看到窗外的雪，他触景生情，写下了一首小诗。

### Traditional Chinese

看到窗外的雪，他觸景生情，寫下了一首小詩。

kàn dào chuāng wài de xuě ， tā chù jǐng shēng qíng ， xiě xià le yì shǒu xiǎo shī 。

The snow outside stirred his feelings and inspired a short poem.

熟悉的花香让她触景生情。

### Traditional Chinese

熟悉的花香讓她觸景生情。

shú xī de huā xiāng ràng tā chù jǐng shēng qíng 。

The familiar floral scent stirred her memories and feelings.

这张照片使我们触景生情，重新聊起那次旅行。

### Traditional Chinese

這張照片使我們觸景生情，重新聊起那次旅行。

zhè zhāng zhào piàn shǐ wǒ men chù jǐng shēng qíng ， chóng xīn liáo qǐ nà cì lǚ xíng 。

The photograph stirred our feelings and brought us back to that trip.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1318&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%A7%B8%E6%99%AF%E7%94%9F%E6%83%85)

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