# 神魂颠倒

shén hún diān dǎo

Utterly captivated or infatuated

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Spirit and soul turned upside down

**Traditional Chinese:** 神魂顛倒

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe fascination strong enough to unsettle judgment.

Often exaggerated; it can suggest loss of composure.

## Understanding the expression

When the spirit and soul are turned upside down, ordinary self control seems to disappear. The expression describes someone so fascinated by a person, performance, or experience that attention and judgment are overwhelmed. Romantic attraction is a common setting, but the phrase is not limited to love. It is stronger and more theatrical than simply enjoying something, and may gently question whether the fascination is sensible.

## Examples

她的歌声让听众神魂颠倒。

### Traditional Chinese

她的歌聲讓聽眾神魂顛倒。

tā de gē shēng ràng tīng zhòng shén hún diān dǎo 。

Her singing utterly captivated the audience.

他被新同事迷得神魂颠倒。

### Traditional Chinese

他被新同事迷得神魂顛倒。

tā bèi xīn tóng shì mí dé shén hún diān dǎo 。

He was completely infatuated with his new colleague.

那场魔术把孩子们迷得神魂颠倒。

### Traditional Chinese

那場魔術把孩子們迷得神魂顛倒。

nà chǎng mó shù bǎ hái zi men mí dé shén hún diān dǎo 。

That magic show completely enthralled the children.

他对那辆跑车神魂颠倒，忘了看价格。

### Traditional Chinese

他對那輛跑車神魂顛倒，忘了看價格。

tā duì nà liàng pǎo chē shén hún diān dǎo ， wàng le kàn jià gé 。

He was so captivated by the sports car that he forgot to check its price.

## 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=%E7%A5%9E%E9%AD%82%E9%A1%9B%E5%80%92)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=695&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [深恶痛绝 shēn wù tòng jué Detest intensely ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shen-wu-tong-jue)

- [声泪俱下 shēng lèi jù xià Speak while weeping deeply ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/sheng-lei-ju-xia)

- [声名狼藉 shēng míng láng jí Have a badly damaged reputation ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/sheng-ming-lang-ji)

- [势不两立 shì bù liǎng lì Be unable to coexist in conflict ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shi-bu-liang-li)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 设身处地 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/she-shen-chu-di) [Next idiom 神机妙算 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shen-ji-miao-suan)