====== fàngxīn: 放心 - To feel at ease, to rest assured, to relax ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** fangxin, fàngxīn, 放心, what does fangxin mean, how to use fangxin, Chinese for don't worry, rest assured in Chinese, Chinese grammar, learn Chinese, feel at ease meaning, 放 vs 心.
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **放心 (fàngxīn)**, a fundamental Chinese term that means "to rest assured" or "to feel at ease." This guide explains how **放心 (fàngxīn)** is more than just "don't worry"; it's a cultural expression of reassurance, responsibility, and trust. Learn its character breakdown, practical usage in daily conversation, and how it differs from similar words like `担心 (dānxīn)` and `放松 (fàngsōng)`.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** fàng xīn
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3
  * **Concise Definition:** To set one's mind at rest; to feel relieved, reassured, or not worried.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **放心 (fàngxīn)** literally translates to "release the heart/mind." It captures the feeling of letting go of a worry, often because you have received assurance that a situation is under control. It's the sigh of relief you breathe when a problem has been taken care of.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **放 (fàng):** To put down, to place, to release, to let go. Imagine physically putting a heavy object down.
  * **心 (xīn):** The heart, often used metaphorically to mean the mind, feeling, or core of one's being. It's seen as the center of thoughts and emotions.
When combined, **放心 (fàngxīn)** creates a vivid image: "to release the heart." You are literally putting down the heavy burden of worry that was weighing on your heart and mind.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, **放心 (fàngxīn)** is a powerful and common social tool used to manage relationships and responsibilities. It's more active and meaningful than the English "don't worry."
When someone tells you **"放心吧 (fàngxīn ba)"**, they are often not just offering emotional support; they are making an implicit promise. They are signaling, "I am taking responsibility for this. You can transfer your worry to me because I am capable and trustworthy." This is common in hierarchical relationships:
  *   **Parents to children:** "You just focus on your studies, we'll handle the rest. 放心!"
  *   **Doctors to patients:** "The surgery went well. 放心."
  *   **A capable friend to another:** "Let me handle the planning. 你放心吧 (nǐ fàngxīn ba)!"
This contrasts with the Western concept, where "don't worry" can sometimes feel like a dismissal of one's concerns. In China, being able to make others feel **放心** is a mark of competence and reliability (**靠谱 - kàopǔ**). Conversely, someone who is undependable is described as **"让人不放心 (ràng rén bù fàngxīn)"**—someone who makes people unable to feel at ease.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**放心 (fàngxīn)** is extremely versatile and used in both formal and informal contexts.
  * **As a command or suggestion:** Often paired with **吧 (ba)** to soften the tone. It's a way of reassuring someone directly.
    * > 放心吧，我来处理。 (Fàngxīn ba, wǒ lái chǔlǐ.) - Rest assured, I'll handle it.
  * **To express one's own state of mind:** Used with **了 (le)** to indicate a change of state from worried to relieved.
    * > 看到你安全到家，我就放心了。 (Kàndào nǐ ānquán dàojiā, wǒ jiù fàngxīn le.) - Seeing you arrived home safely, I can now feel at ease.
  * **As a descriptive adjective:** To describe a person, situation, or product that is reliable and doesn't cause worry. It often uses the structure **"让 (ràng) + 人 (rén) + 放心"** (to make people feel at ease).
    * > 他是个很让人放心的员工。 (Tā shì ge hěn ràng rén fàngxīn de yuángōng.) - He is a very reliable employee.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 这里的食物很干净，你**放心**吃吧。
    * Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de shíwù hěn gānjìng, nǐ **fàngxīn** chī ba.
    * English: The food here is very clean, you can eat without worrying.
    * Analysis: A common way to reassure someone about food safety or quality. The speaker is guaranteeing that it's okay.
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 妈妈，我到学校了，请您**放心**。
    * Pinyin: Māma, wǒ dào xuéxiào le, qǐng nín **fàngxīn**.
    * English: Mom, I've arrived at school, please rest assured.
    * Analysis: A classic example of a child reporting their safety to a parent to alleviate their worry. This fulfills a filial duty.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 手术很成功，家属可以**放心**了。
    * Pinyin: Shǒushù hěn chénggōng, jiāshǔ kěyǐ **fàngxīn** le.
    * English: The surgery was very successful, the family can be at ease now.
    * Analysis: Here, **放心了 (fàngxīn le)** marks the transition from a state of anxiety to a state of relief. This is a very common phrase used by medical professionals.
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 你这么做事，我怎么能**放心**？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ zhème zuòshì, wǒ zěnme néng **fàngxīn**?
    * English: How can I rest assured when you do things like this?
    * Analysis: This is a rhetorical question used to express disapproval and a lack of trust. The speaker is saying the other person's actions are making them worry.
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 把孩子交给他，我一百个**放心**。
    * Pinyin: Bǎ háizi jiāo gěi tā, wǒ yībǎi ge **fàngxīn**.
    * English: I'm 100% at ease handing the child over to him.
    * Analysis: The phrase **"一百个放心 (yībǎi ge fàngxīn)"** is a common and emphatic way to express complete trust and confidence.
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 这个项目交给你，我很**放心**。
    * Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù jiāo gěi nǐ, wǒ hěn **fàngxīn**.
    * English: I feel very assured entrusting this project to you.
    * Analysis: A typical sentence from a manager to a subordinate, expressing trust and delegating responsibility. This builds morale.
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 没什么不**放心**的，他都这么大了。
    * Pinyin: Méi shénme bù **fàngxīn** de, tā dōu zhème dà le.
    * English: There's nothing to be worried about, he's already so grown up.
    * Analysis: The negative form **不放心 (bù fàngxīn)** means "to be worried" or "to not feel at ease." Here it's used to dismiss someone else's concerns.
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 为了让客户**放心**，我们提供了详细的报告。
    * Pinyin: Wèile ràng kèhù **fàngxīn**, wǒmen tígōngle xiángxì de bàogào.
    * English: In order to make the clients feel assured, we provided a detailed report.
    * Analysis: This shows **放心** used in a business context, where building trust and confidence is key.
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 只要你在我身边，我就**放心**。
    * Pinyin: Zhǐyào nǐ zài wǒ shēnbiān, wǒ jiù **fàngxīn**.
    * English: As long as you are by my side, I feel at ease.
    * Analysis: A romantic or intimate use of the term, expressing a feeling of security that comes from a person's presence.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 这款手机最让人**放心**的就是它的电池续航。
    * Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn shǒujī zuì ràng rén **fàngxīn** de jiùshì tā de diànchí xùháng.
    * English: The most reassuring thing about this phone is its battery life.
    * Analysis: Demonstrates how **放心** can be used to describe a feature of a product that removes a common point of anxiety for consumers.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **放心 (fàngxīn) vs. 放松 (fàngsōng):** This is a critical distinction.
    * **放心 (fàngxīn):** To be mentally relieved of a worry. (Mental reassurance).
    * **放松 (fàngsōng):** To relax, to loosen up, to chill out. (Physical or mental relaxation).
    * //Incorrect:// 周末我只想在家**放心**。 (Zhōumò wǒ zhǐ xiǎng zài jiā fàngxīn.) -> This means "I just want to be reassured at home this weekend," which is awkward.
    * //Correct:// 周末我只想在家**放松**一下。 (Zhōumò wǒ zhǐ xiǎng zài jiā fàngsōng yíxià.) -> "I just want to relax a bit at home this weekend."
  * **放心 (fàngxīn) vs. 不用担心 (búyòng dānxīn):**
    * **放心 (fàngxīn):** Stronger and more active. It often implies "I've got this, you can stop worrying." It's about transferring the burden of worry.
    * **不用担心 (búyòng dānxīn):** More of a general "You don't need to worry." It can be a simple statement of fact without the speaker taking personal responsibility. For example, "不用担心，明天是晴天" (Búyòng dānxīn, míngtiān shì qíngtiān - Don't worry, tomorrow will be sunny). You aren't taking responsibility for the weather, just stating a fact.
  * **Overusing "放心吧 (fàngxīn ba)":** Telling someone "放心吧!" when you are not in a position to guarantee the outcome can sound arrogant or empty. Use it when you are genuinely taking control of a situation or are certain of the facts.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[担心]] (dānxīn) - The direct antonym: "to worry." Literally "to carry on the heart."
  * [[安心]] (ānxīn) - Very similar, but means "peace of mind" and is often more about an internal, settled state, whereas **放心** is often prompted by an external reassurance.
  * [[操心]] (cāoxīn) - To worry about and actively manage something for someone else. It implies more effort and trouble than **担心**. A mother might **操心** for her son's future.
  * [[放松]] (fàngsōng) - A common "false friend." Means to relax physically or let loose, not to be relieved of worry.
  * [[靠谱]] (kàopǔ) - Slang for reliable, trustworthy. A person who is **靠谱** is someone who makes others feel **放心**.
  * [[踏实]] (tāshi) - To feel grounded, steady, at peace. It's a feeling of security and dependability, slightly different from the relief of **放心**.
  * [[省心]] (shěngxīn) - "To save worry." Describes a person, product, or situation that is easy to deal with and doesn't cause problems. A low-maintenance car is very **省心**.
  * [[保证]] (bǎozhèng) - To guarantee, to promise. This is an explicit action that often leads to someone feeling **放心**.