心旷神怡
- Literal
- the heart broadens and the spirit gladdens
- Figurative
- To feel your mind open up and your spirits settle, usually in front of a beautiful landscape or a setting that puts you at ease.
Where does 心旷神怡 come from?
It comes from the "Record of Yueyang Tower," written in the Song dynasty by Fan Zhongyan at the request of a friend who had just restored the building. The essay contrasts two ways of looking out over the same Dongting Lake: on days of rain and wind, the visitor fills with sadness and longing; but on a clear morning, with still water and birds along the shore, "climbing this tower, one's mind opens and one's spirit calms, honors and slights are forgotten alike, and lifting a cup to the wind, one is filled with joy." Those four characters came loose from the passage, and today they are used far from any tower — of a lookout, a park, anywhere that clears your head.
Source (出处): 范仲淹《岳阳楼记》
How is 心旷神怡 used? Two examples
- 站在山顶看日出，让人心旷神怡。
Watching the sunrise from the summit clears your head and calms your spirit.
- 周末去海边走走，心旷神怡，压力全没了。
I took a walk by the sea over the weekend — it cleared my head and the stress melted away.
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