Definition
心虚 describes a feeling of unease or lack of confidence that comes from knowing you've done something wrong or from feeling inadequate. It's often used when someone's guilty conscience shows (e.g., avoiding eye contact) or when they feel insecure about their abilities. The medical term 'deficiency syndromes of the heart' (心气虚) is a specialized TCM usage and not common in everyday speech.
s.v.
to have a guilty conscienceto lack self-confidence (due to awareness of one's shortcomings)
Examples
- ，心虚。Tā shuōhuà shí yǎnshén duǒshǎn, míngxiǎn shì xīn xū le.He avoided eye contact while speaking — clearly he had a guilty conscience.
- ，心虚，。Dì yī cì shàng tái yǎnjiǎng, tā xīnli hěn xīn xū, dàn yìngzhe tóupí jiǎng wán le.The first time he gave a speech on stage, he felt very insecure inside, but he forced himself to finish.
- 心虚，。Zuò zéi de rén zǒng shì xīn xū, tīng dào jǐngdí jiù jǐnzhāng.Thieves always have a guilty conscience — they get nervous when they hear a siren.
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