# 心悦诚服

xīn yuè chéng fú

Accept willingly and sincerely

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** The heart is pleased and sincerely convinced

**Traditional Chinese:** 心悅誠服

**Register:** Positive · general

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

## When to use it

Describe genuine agreement earned through persuasion or ability.

Different from obedience produced by fear.

## Understanding the expression

The heart both welcomes and accepts what it recognizes as right or impressive. The expression describes sincere conviction rather than reluctant submission. A clear explanation, fair decision, or superior performance may win this response. It often follows 让人 or 令人 when describing what earns respect. The key is the listener's inward agreement. A person who agrees only because others insist would not fit the same favorable sense.

## Examples

她的证据让大家心悦诚服。

### Traditional Chinese

她的證據讓大家心悅誠服。

tā de zhèng jù ràng dà jiā xīn yuè chéng fú 。

Her evidence sincerely convinced everyone.

他输了比赛，却心悦诚服。

### Traditional Chinese

他輸了比賽，卻心悅誠服。

tā shū le bǐ sài ， què xīn yuè chéng fú 。

He accepted his defeat with genuine respect.

公平的安排使员工心悦诚服。

### Traditional Chinese

公平的安排使員工心悅誠服。

gōng píng de ān pái shǐ yuán gōng xīn yuè chéng fú 。

The fair arrangement earned staff's willing acceptance.

耐心解释更能让人心悦诚服。

### Traditional Chinese

耐心解釋更能讓人心悅誠服。

nài xīn jiě shì gèng néng ràng rén xīn yuè chéng fú 。

Patient explanation is more likely to earn sincere agreement.

## 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=%E5%BF%83%E6%82%85%E8%AA%A0%E6%9C%8D)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=556&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [心照不宣 xīn zhào bù xuān Understand each other without saying it ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-zhao-bu-xuan)

- [心直口快 xīn zhí kǒu kuài Speak frankly and readily ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-zhi-kou-kuai)

- [兴高采烈 xìng gāo cǎi liè Be cheerful and excited ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xing-gao-cai-lie)

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