杞人忧天
杞人忧天 (qǐ rén yōu tiān) literally means “qi person worries sky” and expresses “worry needlessly about impossible disasters”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: qi ren you tian, qi ren you tian,杞人忧天 meaning, 杞人忧天 in english
Worry needlessly about impossible disasters
Pronunciation: qǐ rén yōu tiān
Literal meaning: Qi person worries sky
Origin & Usage
This anxious idiom references a person from Qi (杞人) who worried (忧) about the sky (天) falling, originating from the philosophical text 'Liezi' during the Warring States period. It tells of a man so concerned about the sky collapsing, the earth cracking, and himself falling into the abyss that he couldn't eat or sleep. The story selected the small state of Qi to emphasize the provincial nature of such excessive worry. During the Han Dynasty, it became a standard reference in governance texts warning against paralysis through excessive caution. Modern usage describes irrational anxiety about unlikely catastrophes, particularly concerns that are theoretically possible but practically remote, often preventing normal function or reasonable risk-taking.
Examples
English: "His constant fears about remote dangers prevented him from enjoying life"
Chinese: 他对遥远危险的持续担忧使他无法享受生活
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 杞人忧天 mean in English?
杞人忧天 (qǐ rén yōu tiān) literally translates to “Qi person worries sky” and is used to express “Worry needlessly about impossible disasters”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 杞人忧天 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving worry needlessly about impossible disasters.
What is the pinyin for 杞人忧天?
The pinyin pronunciation for 杞人忧天 is “qǐ rén yōu tiān”.