sānxīn'èryì: 三心二意 - Half-hearted, Undecided, Fickle

• Keywords: sanxineryi, 三心二意, Chinese idiom, chengyu, half-hearted meaning, undecided in Chinese, fickle, of two minds, can't make up your mind, distracted, unfocused, Chinese expression for indecisive, HSK 5.
• Summary: Learn the common Chinese idiom (chengyu) 三心二意 (sānxīn'èryì), a vivid expression for being half-hearted, undecided, or of two minds. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage with over 10 example sentences. Understand how to describe someone who is unfocused, fickle, or can't commit to a task in authentic Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): sān xīn èr yì
• Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu); used as an adjective or adverb.
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be of two minds; to be half-hearted, distracted, or undecided.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine your heart and attention are split into multiple pieces. That's the core feeling of 三心二意. It literally translates to “three hearts, two ideas,” painting a picture of someone who is unfocused, indecisive, or not fully committed to a task because their intentions are scattered. It almost always carries a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of concentration, seriousness, or resolve.

• 三 (sān): The number “three.”
• 心 (xīn): The “heart,” which in Chinese culture is also the seat of the “mind” and “intention.”
• 二 (èr): The number “two.”
• 意 (yì): An “idea,” “thought,” or “will.”

The phrase literally depicts a person with “three hearts and two ideas” for a single task. This numerical exaggeration creates a powerful and memorable image of internal division. Instead of having one heart and one mind focused on a goal, this person's energy is scattered, making them unreliable and ineffective.

• Cultural Value of Focus: The existence and frequent use of 三心二意 highlight the strong cultural value placed on focus (专心 - zhuānxīn), diligence, and dedication in Chinese culture. From a young age, children are taught the importance of applying themselves fully to their studies and tasks. Being described as 三心二意 is a common criticism, implying a character flaw or a lack of maturity.
• Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, we might say someone is “of two minds” or “wishy-washy.” While “of two minds” can be a neutral description of a difficult dilemma, 三心二意 is almost always a critique of the person's character. It's less about the difficulty of the choice and more about the person's scattered nature and lack of commitment. It carries a stronger negative weight than simply being “indecisive.”
• Related Values: This idiom connects to the broader Confucian value of perseverance and seeing things through. A person who is 三心二意 fails to demonstrate this virtue, whether in their work, studies, or personal relationships.

This idiom is extremely common in modern spoken and written Chinese.

• In Education and Parenting: This is classic “teacher-scold-student” or “parent-scold-child” vocabulary. It's used to admonish a child for not concentrating on their homework.
  • e.g., “别三心二意了，好好写作业！” (Stop being so distracted and do your homework properly!)
• In the Workplace: A manager might use this term to criticize an employee who is juggling too many projects poorly or not giving their full attention to a priority task.
• In Relationships: It can be used to describe someone who is not serious about a relationship, is dating multiple people, or is unable to commit.
• Connotation and Formality: The connotation is unequivocally negative. You would only use it to describe yourself in a self-deprecating way. It's a standard idiom (chengyu), making it suitable for both informal conversation and more formal written contexts like a performance review.

• Example 1:
  • 他学习的时候总是三心二意，一会儿看手机，一会儿听音乐。
  • Pinyin: Tā xuéxí de shíhou zǒngshì sānxīn'èryì, yīhuìr kàn shǒujī, yīhuìr tīng yīnyuè.
  • English: He's always half-hearted when he studies, looking at his phone one minute and listening to music the next.
  • Analysis: This is a classic usage, criticizing a lack of focus during a task that requires concentration.
• Example 2:
  • 做这么重要的项目，你可不能三心二意。
  • Pinyin: Zuò zhème zhòngyào de xiàngmù, nǐ kě bùnéng sānxīn'èryì.
  • English: You absolutely cannot be unfocused when working on such an important project.
  • Analysis: Here, it's used as a warning. The particle “可 (kě)” adds emphasis to the prohibition.
• Example 3:
  • 她对感情三心二意，同时和好几个男生约会。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì gǎnqíng sānxīn'èryì, tóngshí hé hǎojǐ ge nánshēng yuēhuì.
  • English: She's fickle in her relationships, dating several guys at the same time.
  • Analysis: This example shows how the term can mean fickle or uncommitted in the context of romance.
• Example 4:
  • 我劝你还是一心一意地做好一件事，不要三心二意。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ quàn nǐ háishì yīxīnyīyì de zuò hǎo yī jiàn shì, búyào sānxīn'èryì.
  • English: I advise you to do one thing with your whole heart, don't be so half-hearted.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts 三心二意 with its antonym, 一心一意 (yīxīnyīyì), which means “single-minded” or “wholehearted.”
• Example 5:
  • 你为什么总是三心二意的？到底选哪个？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme zǒngshì sānxīn'èryì de? Dàodǐ xuǎn nǎge?
  • English: Why are you always so indecisive? Which one are you picking in the end?
  • Analysis: This usage emphasizes the “indecisive” aspect of the idiom. The “的 (de)” particle here turns the idiom into an adjective modifying the implied person (“you”).
• Example 6:
  • 他三心二意地答应了，但我知道他并不真的想去。
  • Pinyin: Tā sānxīn'èryì de dāyìng le, dàn wǒ zhīdào tā bìng bù zhēn de xiǎng qù.
  • English: He agreed half-heartedly, but I know he didn't really want to go.
  • Analysis: Used as an adverb with “地 (de),” it describes how an action is performed—in this case, without real commitment or enthusiasm.
• Example 7:
  • 领导最讨厌工作三心二意的员工。
  • Pinyin: Lǐngdǎo zuì tǎoyàn gōngzuò sānxīn'èryì de yuángōng.
  • English: The leadership most dislikes employees who are half-hearted at work.
  • Analysis: A common workplace sentiment. Here, it functions as an adjective describing the employees.
• Example 8:
  • 学语言不能三心二意，今天学中文，明天又想学法文。
  • Pinyin: Xué yǔyán bùnéng sānxīn'èryì, jīntiān xué Zhōngwén, míngtiān yòu xiǎng xué Fǎwén.
  • English: You can't be fickle when learning a language, studying Chinese today and then wanting to study French tomorrow.
  • Analysis: This describes the negative habit of dabbling in many things without committing to one, leading to poor results in all of them.
• Example 9:
  • 我承认，关于辞职这件事，我有点三心二意。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ chéngrèn, guānyú cízhí zhè jiàn shì, wǒ yǒudiǎn sānxīn'èryì.
  • English: I admit, regarding this matter of quitting my job, I'm a bit of two minds.
  • Analysis: This is an example of self-deprecating usage. The speaker is admitting their own indecisiveness and lack of resolve.
• Example 10:
  • 别再三心二意了，机会不会等你的！
  • Pinyin: Bié zài sānxīn'èryì le, jīhuì bú huì děng nǐ de!
  • English: Stop being so indecisive, the opportunity won't wait for you!
  • Analysis: A common phrase used to urge someone to make a decision and act.

• Mistake 1: Confusing it with careful consideration.
  • A learner might use 三心二意 to describe someone who is carefully weighing their options. This is incorrect. 三心二意 implies a flighty, unfocused, or distracted state of mind, not a thoughtful or difficult deliberation. For thoughtful hesitation, a better term is 犹豫不决 (yóuyùbùjué).
  • Incorrect: `他在两个工作机会之间三心二意，因为两个都很好。` (He is half-hearted between two job offers because both are good.)
  • Correct: `他在两个工作机会之间犹豫不决，因为两个都很好。` (He is hesitating between two job offers because both are good.)
• Mistake 2: Using it in a positive context.
  • Never use 三心二意 to praise someone for having diverse interests. The idiom is inherently critical.
  • Incorrect: `他会弹钢琴，又会画画，真是三心二意！` (He can play piano and also paint, he's so half-hearted!)
  • Correct: `他会弹钢琴，又会画画，真是多才多艺！` (He can play piano and also paint, he's so multi-talented!)

• Antonyms (Focus and Dedication):
  • 一心一意 (yīxīnyīyì) - The direct antonym: “one heart, one mind.” To be completely focused and devoted.
  • 专心致志 (zhuānxīnzhìzhì) - A more formal and strong antonym meaning to be wholly absorbed in a task with immense concentration.
• Synonyms / Similar Concepts (Indecision and Distraction):
  • 犹豫不决 (yóuyùbùjué) - To hesitate; to be indecisive. It focuses more on the inability to make a choice, often due to the difficulty of the options, rather than a fickle character.
  • 举棋不定 (jǔqíbúdìng) - “To hold a chess piece, but be unable to decide on a move.” A very vivid way to say someone is hesitating over a crucial decision.
  • 心猿意马 (xīnyuányìmǎ) - “Heart of an ape, mind of a horse.” Describes a mind that is restless, fidgety, and completely unable to concentrate. It's a stronger, more pictorial term for extreme distraction.
  • 见异思迁 (jiànyìsīqiān) - “To see something different and change one's mind.” Describes a fickle person who easily abandons old things (or people) for new ones.
  • 分心 (fēnxīn) - A simple verb meaning “to get distracted.” While a person who is 三心二意 is often 分心, the idiom describes the state or character trait, whereas 分心 describes the temporary action.
  • 马虎 (mǎhu) - Careless, sloppy. Carelessness is often the result of working in a 三心二意 manner.