Idiom Explainer: 一心一意: Hearts and intentions?

This post explains the idiom.

to focus completely (lit: one - heart - one - intent)

Kitchen.

Giles was sweating. Giles was hungry. Giles was (and I write this in complete confidence to you, dearest reader) a terrible cook. He roasted carrots in such a way that they resembled the sort of small stick that your terrier would find on the ground on your dog walk and - happily for him, grotesquely for you - leave on your porch.

Adam was a terrible cook because he was, whilst cooking, attempting his seventh rewatch of Bridgerton. His mind was not focussed on the cooking. His heart, his intentions, were elsewhere - a period drama.

Adam then received the newsletter you are now reading. Despite his shock at reading, in real-time, a story written about himself, he read the Chinese idiom 一心一意 yī xīn yī yì - and realised the error of his ways.

He threw his phone, resplendant with the historically inaccurate depicitions of period costume, into the dustbin.

He focussed on his carrots.

By combing his heart, and his intentions, and focussing them both on the carrots he was cooking, he was able to cook a delicious dinner.

The fact that his terrier then jumped up and ate the dinner from his plate, splashing hot gravy all over Giles’ work shirt, causing a level of anger that merged into merriment, is unrelated to today’s lesson - but amusing nevertheless.

一心一意 - wholeheartedly

Professional Use:

• Leaders: 她一心一意准备这次演讲。She prepared for this speech with total commitment.

• Beginners: 考试前要一心一意地复习。Before exams, you must revise with full concentration.

  
  

Origin: Classical Chinese philosophy featuring in ancient texts, such as 后汉书 and 三国志。

I trust that you will have a splendid, fruitful week.

Daniel Sherwood-Clarke | Mandarin Tutor to ambitious students

sherwoodclarke.com