heart
Definitions
The muscular organ that pumps blood around the body
心脏（泵送血液的肌肉器官）
The center of a person's feelings and emotions; one's inner self
内心；情感、心灵的所在
Courage, will, or enthusiasm to keep going
勇气；信心；劲头
The central or most important part of something
中心；核心；最重要的部分
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedA native English word from Old English heorte, not built from parts. Its power is in how one meaning grows into four: the physical organ → the inner self where feeling lives → the courage stored there → the center of any thing. Each layer is a metaphor on the one before it.
Root heart still carries 8 more wordsWhy It Means This
Why does one word cover organ, emotion, courage, and center? Ancient peoples felt their pulse race with fear or love, so they located feeling in the beating heart — hence 'inner self.' Strong feeling and resolve sit together, so heart became courage ('lose heart'). And because the heart is the body's vital center, it lent its name to the center of anything: the heart of the city, the heart of the matter.
Common Collocations
- 1.break someone's heart让某人心碎
- 2.learn by heart记在心里/背下来
- 3.from the bottom of my heart发自内心地
- 4.a change of heart改变心意
- 5.the heart of the matter问题的核心
- 6.lose/take heart灰心/振作
Example Sentences
- 1.
The doctor listened carefully to her heart and lungs.
- 2.
Deep in his heart, he knew the decision was wrong.
- 3.
Don't lose heart — you can still pass if you keep trying.
- 4.
The old market sits right at the heart of the city.
- 5.
Let's get to the heart of the matter and stop avoiding it.