扣人心弦

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: kòu rén xīn xián
• English Translation: To deeply move someone's heart, to resonate emotionally, to be very touching
• Idiom Composition: 「扣」（to strike, to knock）＋「人」（person）＋「心」（heart, mind）＋「弦」（string (of a musical instrument)）
• Meaning: To touch the heartstrings of a person and strongly move their emotions. It describes literature, art, or speech that is very touching and deeply captures people's hearts.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「扣人心弦」 contains the following nuances:

• Strong emotional impact: It expresses not just a simple impression but a strong emotional impact that shakes the heart.
• Deep empathy: It means evoking deep empathy in listeners or readers, leaving a lasting impression on their hearts.
• Attractiveness and captivating power: It suggests a strong charm that draws people in, making it impossible to look away or stop listening.

3. Usage

「扣人心弦」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Evaluating artistic works: Used to describe artistic works such as novels, movies, music, or theater that are very moving.
  • Example:「这部电影的情节非常扣人心弦，让人看了之后久久不能忘怀。」
    （The plot of this movie is very touching, leaving a lasting impression that is hard to forget.）
• Evaluating speeches or talks: Used to describe speeches or talks that strongly move people's hearts and are very touching.
  • Example:「他的演讲充满了激情，每一句话都扣人心弦。」
    （His speech was full of passion, and every word resonated deeply.）
• Describing stories or events: Also used to describe touching stories or events.
  • Example:「她的故事讲得非常生动，每一个细节都扣人心弦。」
    （Her story was very vivid, and every detail deeply moved the audience.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这首曲子的旋律优美，每一个音符都扣人心弦。
   （The melody of this song is beautiful, and every note touches the heart.）
2. 那场辩论赛中，辩手们的精彩表现扣人心弦，让人目不转睛。
   （In that debate, the debaters' brilliant performances captivated the audience, who couldn't take their eyes off.）
3. 小说中主人公的命运起伏跌宕，扣人心弦。
   （The protagonist's fate in the novel is full of twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.）
4. 这幅画作的色彩运用和构图都十分巧妙，扣人心弦，让人叹为观止。
   （The use of color and composition in this painting is very skillful, captivating viewers' hearts and leaving them in awe.）
5. 他用真挚的情感讲述了自己的亲身经历，每一个字都扣人心弦。
   （He told his personal experiences with sincere emotion, and every word deeply resonated.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In traditional Chinese culture, it has been important for art forms such as poetry and music to move people's hearts and evoke emotional resonance. The idiom '扣人心弦' reflects this cultural background.
• '心弦' (heartstrings) is a metaphor referring to the strings of a musical instrument. Just as plucking the strings produces beautiful sounds, touching the heartstrings symbolizes evoking deep emotional responses.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 感人肺腑 (gǎn rén fèi fǔ): To move someone deeply to the core.
  • 动人心魄 (dòng rén xīn pò): To shake the heart and captivate the soul.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 索然无味 (suǒ rán wú wèi): Completely uninteresting and boring.
  • 平淡无奇 (píng dàn wú qí): Ordinary and unremarkable.

6. Summary

'扣人心弦' is an idiom used to describe things that deeply move people's hearts and evoke strong emotions. It can be applied in various contexts such as literature, art, and speeches, expressing the strong appeal of the subject and the deep impression it leaves on listeners or readers. Understanding the importance of emotional expression in Chinese culture and using this idiom effectively will help you speak Chinese with greater expressiveness.