心安理得
- Literal
- heart at peace, reason secured
- Figurative
- To feel at ease because you believe you have done right; often used ironically of someone who does something wrong without a twinge of guilt.
Where does 心安理得 come from?
It does not come from a specific anecdote: its two halves explain it. 心安 means "a heart at peace" and 理得 "having reason on one's side," so the inner calm rests on the conviction of acting justly. In its straight sense it describes the peace of someone who has done their part: they pay back what they owe, do their work and sleep well. But in everyday speech today it very often turns up ironically, to criticize someone who takes advantage of others and does not bat an eye, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It frequently comes before a verb with 地: 心安理得地接受.
How is 心安理得 used? Two examples
- 这是我自己攒钱买的包，用得心安理得。
I bought this bag with my own savings, so I use it with a completely clear conscience.
- 活儿都是同事干的，他却心安理得地领了奖金。
His coworkers did all the work, yet he pocketed the bonus without a shred of guilt.
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