心猿意马
心猿意马 (xīn yuán yì mǎ) literally means “heart monkey mind horse” and expresses “restless, unfocused mind”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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Restless, unfocused mind
Pronunciation: xīn yuán yì mǎ
Literal meaning: Heart monkey mind horse
Origin & Usage
This restless idiom compares the heart/mind (心) to a monkey (猿) and thoughts/intentions (意) to a galloping horse (马), originating from Buddhist meditation texts during the Tang Dynasty. It described the challenging experience of untamed consciousness constantly jumping between objects of attention. The specific animals were chosen for their characteristic movements - monkeys leaping unpredictably among branches, horses galloping without restraint. Chan Buddhist masters used this vivid imagery to help practitioners recognize mental restlessness during meditation. Modern usage describes difficulty concentrating or maintaining mental focus, acknowledging the natural tendency of untrained attention to wander between thoughts, particularly relevant in contexts requiring sustained mental application.
Examples
English: "The student couldn't focus on studying with so many distractions"
Chinese: 这个学生在如此多的干扰下无法专注于学习
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 心猿意马 mean in English?
心猿意马 (xīn yuán yì mǎ) literally translates to “Heart monkey mind horse” and is used to express “Restless, unfocused mind”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 心猿意马 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving restless, unfocused mind.
What is the pinyin for 心猿意马?
The pinyin pronunciation for 心猿意马 is “xīn yuán yì mǎ”.