Back to idioms
EmotionsDaily Life

心血来潮

xīn xuè lái cháo

Literal Meaning

Heart's blood comes like a tide

Meaning

To be seized by a whim; a sudden impulse; on the spur of the moment.

Origin Story

Originally described a sudden premonition or feeling in the heart, like a tide rising. Now it mostly refers to acting on a sudden, often temporary, idea or impulse.

When to Use This Idiom

Use 心血来潮 when:

  • You suddenly decide to do something unplanned
  • Describing impulsive behavior
  • Explaining a random action

Example Sentences

他突然心血来潮,决定去海边看日出。

Tā tūrán xīnxuèláicháo, juédìng qù hǎibiān kàn rìchū.

He suddenly had a whim and decided to go to the beach to watch the sunrise.

这不是深思熟虑的计划,只是我的一时心血来潮。

Zhè búshì shēnsīshúlǜ de jìhuà, zhǐshì wǒ de yìshí xīnxuèláicháo.

This isn't a carefully thought-out plan, just a spur-of-the-moment idea of mine.

Ready to start learning?

Launch the app and explore all features: dictionary, stories, flashcards, and more.