# 见猎心喜

jiàn liè xīn xǐ

Feel eager to return to a former pursuit

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Delight at seeing a hunt

**Traditional Chinese:** 見獵心喜

**Register:** Warm · literary

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe old enthusiasm revived by watching others.

Not just happiness at any pleasant sight.

## Understanding the expression

Someone sees an activity they once enjoyed and feels the old excitement return. The expression uses hunting as its image, but modern subjects may be music, sport, craft, or another familiar pursuit. It often carries warmth and a little nostalgia. The important link is earlier interest or experience. A complete beginner may be curious, but the phrase most naturally suggests recognizing a pleasure that was already part of one's life.

## Examples

看到棋局，他见猎心喜。

### Traditional Chinese

看到棋局，他見獵心喜。

kàn dào qí jú ， tā jiàn liè xīn xǐ 。

Seeing the chess game revived his enthusiasm.

老鼓手听到节奏，见猎心喜。

### Traditional Chinese

老鼓手聽到節奏，見獵心喜。

lǎo gǔ shǒu tīng dào jié zòu ， jiàn liè xīn xǐ 。

The rhythm rekindled the old drummer's interest.

她见猎心喜，又拿起画笔。

### Traditional Chinese

她見獵心喜，又拿起畫筆。

tā jiàn liè xīn xǐ ， yòu ná qǐ huà bǐ 。

Her old enthusiasm returned, and she picked up a brush.

看孩子踢球，父亲见猎心喜。

### Traditional Chinese

看孩子踢球，父親見獵心喜。

kàn hái zi tī qiú ， fù qīn jiàn liè xīn xǐ 。

Watching the children play football revived their father's enthusiasm.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%A6%8B%E7%8D%B5%E5%BF%83%E5%96%9C)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=322&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [渐入佳境 jiàn rù jiā jìng Improve progressively and become increasingly enjoyable ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jian-ru-jia-jing)

- [江河日下 jiāng hé rì xià Deteriorate steadily ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiang-he-ri-xia)

- [江郎才尽 jiāng láng cái jìn Lose the ability to produce fresh creative work ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiang-lang-cai-jin)

- [惊天动地 jīng tiān dòng dì Have an enormous or dramatic impact ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jing-tian-dong-di)

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