可以通俗理解为:
中文:在某人的内心深处;真心实意地;说到底;其实
核心:突出“最本质、最私密的内心状态”(比普通的"in one's heart"更深入一层)
必须替换形容词性物主代词(my/your/his/her/their/our等),指代“某人的”;
通常在句中作状语,修饰动词、形容词或整个句子,说明“想法/感受的来源是内心最深处”。
表达“明知/深知某事(但可能没说出口)”:
In my heart of hearts, I knew I should apologize.(我内心深处知道我该道歉。)
揭示“真实愿望/态度(与表面相反)”:
He said he was fine, but in his heart of hearts, he was lonely.(他说自己没事,但内心深处很孤独。)
用于疑问句,询问“真心想法”:
Do you, in your heart of hearts, believe this plan will work?(你真心觉得这个计划能成吗?)
1、 日常场景:
She tried to act happy for their sake, but in her heart of hearts, she was devastated.(她为了他们强装开心,但内心深处快崩溃了。)
2、 情感表达:
In our heart of hearts, we all want to be loved for who we are.(说到底,我们都希望被爱原本的自己。)
3、 决策场景:
He chose the job for the money, but in his heart of hearts, he wanted to be an artist.(他为了钱选了这份工作,但内心深处想当艺术家。)
in one's heart:普通的“在心里”(较浅,可指一般感受);
deep down:“在内心深处”(更口语,与"in one's heart of hearts"接近,但后者更强调“最核心的真心”);
truth be told:“说实话”(侧重“坦诚表露”,但不强调“内心深度”)。
简言之,"in one's heart of hearts"是挖掘“最真实自我”的表达,适合描述“未说出口的真心”或“与表面不一致的深层感受”。