顺心
shùn xīn · HSK 7
happy
😌 顺 smooth + 心 heart = a smooth heart, everything going your way
顺 means smooth or going-along-with, and 心 is heart or mind. A heart that meets no friction is content, so 顺心 means things turn out happy and satisfactory.
顺 — 川 (river) + 页 (head/face)
顺 combines 川 (flowing river) with 页 (head), originally depicting a head turned to follow the flow of water. The image of going along with the current gave rise to meanings like 'to follow,' 'smooth,' and 'in order.' It remains tied to ideas of compliance and natural sequence.
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.