People believed for a long time that the heart was the center of a person's emotions. That is why the word "heart" is used in so many expressions about emotional situations.

One such expression is to lose your heart to someone(爱上,钟情于). When that happens, you have fallen in love. But if the person who won your heart(赢得你的芳心) does not love you, then you are sure to have a broken heart(一颗受伤的心). In your pain and sadness, you may decide that the person you loved is hard-hearted. And in fact, has a heart of stone(铁石心肠).

You may decide to pour out your heart to(向某人倾诉) a friend. Telling someone about your personal problems can often make you feel better. If your friend does not seem to understand how painful your broken heart is, you may ask her to have a heart(发慈悲,做好事). You are asking your friend to show some sympathy for your situation. Your friend has her heart in the right place(怀有真情和善意). If she says she is sorry, and shows great concern for how you feel.

Your friend may, however, warn you, not to wear your heart on your sleeve(流露感情). In other words, do not let everyone see how lovesick you are. When your heart is on your sleeve, you are showing your deepest emotions. If your friend says my heart bleeds for you(怜悯或同情某人), she means the opposite. She is a cold-hearted(冷石心肠) person who does not really care about your situation.

In the ever-popular motion picture the Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man seeks a heart. He wanted to feel the emotion of love, and re-seeking help from the powerful Wizard of Oz to find a heart.

The Cowardly Lion, in the same movie, did have a heart. But he lacked courage and wanted to ask the Wizard of Oz to give him some. You could say that the Cowardly Lion was chicken-hearted(胆小鬼). That is another way of describing someone who is not very brave.

A chicken is not noted for its bravery. Thus, someone who is chicken-hearted does not have much courage. When you are frightened or concerned, your heart is in your mouth(非常惊恐或担心). You might say, for example, that your heart was in your mouth when you ask a bank to lend you some money to pay for a new house. If that bank says no to you do not lose heart(灰心,丧气), be strong-hearted(坚强). Sit down with the banker and have a heart-to-heart(谈心) talk. Be open and honest about your situation. The bank may have a change of heart(态度或感情的变化;改变初衷). It may agree to lend you the money. Then you could stop worrying and put your heart at rest(.把心沉下来,放心).

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