이심전심

이심전심

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 以心傳心 (“transmit one's mind by means of one's mind”), originally an expression in Chinese Buddhist literature. The word refers to an episode during the Gautama Buddha's preaching, when the Buddha wordlessly held up a flower before his followers. Nobody understood his intentions except the disciple Mahākāśyapa, who understood his teacher and smiled in reply. The word was coined after the silent empathy between the two figures.[1]

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈi(ː)ɕʰimd͡ʑʌ̹nɕʰim]
• Phonetic hangul: [이(ː)심전심]
  • Though still prescriptive in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	isimjeonsim
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	isimjeonsim
McCune–Reischauer?	isimjŏnsim
Yale Romanization?	īsimcensim

Noun

이심전심 • (isimjeonsim) (hanja 以心傳心)

1. (set phrase from Classical Chinese) silent understanding, tacit understanding, empathy
   • 2019, 강성관, “늙은 난 [The Aged Orchid]”, in 수필과비평, volume 213:

     서산으로 넘어가는 석양을 바라보며 이심전심의 미소를 보낸다.

     Seosan-euro neomeoganeun seogyang-eul barabomyeo isimjeonsim-ui miso-reul bonaenda.

     Watching the evening sun go over the western mountains, I send it a smile of silent empathy.

References

1. 김호귀 (2016), “이심전심(以心傳心)”, in Encyclopedia of Korean Culture‎