下心
Meanings
1
ulterior motive; hidden agenda; secret intention
Refers to a hidden, often selfish or calculating intention behind seemingly innocent words or actions. Commonly used in negative contexts.
I think there's an ulterior motive behind his kindness.
It was an invitation with an obvious hidden agenda.
2
kanji 'heart' radical at bottom
Technical term for the 心 radical when it appears at the bottom of a kanji, as in 思 or 想. Not used in everyday conversation.
The radical of 思 is 下心 (the 'heart' radical at the bottom).
Usage patterns
- 下心があるto have an ulterior motive
It seems there's an ulterior motive behind his kindness.
- 下心を抱くto harbor an ulterior motive
It came out that he had been kind to her with an ulterior motive.
- 下心が見え隠れするfor an ulterior motive to show through
His words hinted at an ulterior motive now and then.
- 〈人〉に下心を持つto have designs on someone
It seems he had ulterior designs on his female coworker.