心灵
xīnlíng · HSK 6
mind
💫 xin = heart + ling = spirit — the heart-spirit, your inner psyche
心 (heart) + 灵 (spirit/soul) combine to mean the intangible seat of thought and feeling. Think of it as your heart-spirit — the word Chinese uses when English would say mind or soul.
心 — pictograph of a heart with chambers and aorta
心 is a pictograph showing a stylized heart, with strokes representing the organ's chambers and the aorta at the top. Originally meaning the physical heart, it broadened to cover mind, feelings, and intentions, since ancient Chinese thought located thinking and emotion in the heart.
灵 — rain 雨 + mouths 口口口 + shaman 巫
Originally written 靈, depicting shamans (巫) using mouths (口口口) to chant prayers for rain (雨). The character meant a spirit medium who could summon rain, then broadened to mean spirit, soul, or supernatural efficacy. The simplified form 灵 replaces the lower portion with 火 (fire) over 彐.