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初心

Mandarin · pinyin chū xīn

(one's) original intention, aspiration etc
(Buddhism) "beginner's mind" (i.e. having an attitude of openness when studying a subject just as a beginner in that subject would)

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Characters in this entry

初: chū · beginning, initial, primary
心: xīn · heart; mind, intelligence; soul; 5th lunar mansion, determinative star α Scorpii (Antares)

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Mandarin tones

1–1 · chu1 xin1

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

co1 sam1

Cantonese word readings for 初心. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

noun

one’s initial intention; original idea; true feelings; aspiration; purpose; goal; mission
(Buddhism) mind of a novice, an attitude to learn resembling that of a beginner's, possibly in spite of one's mastery

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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