草木皆兵
草木皆兵 (cǎo mù jiē bīng) literally means “grass trees all soldiers” and expresses “extreme paranoia sees threats everywhere”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving mental states. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: cao mu jie bing, cao mu jie bing,草木皆兵 meaning, 草木皆兵 in english
Extreme paranoia sees threats everywhere
Pronunciation: cǎo mù jiē bīng
Literal meaning: Grass trees all soldiers
Origin & Usage
This psychological idiom describes seeing grass (草) and trees (木) all (皆) as soldiers (兵), originating from the Three Kingdoms period where a defeated general became so fearful during retreat that rustling vegetation appeared as enemy troops. The phrase gained broader usage during the Tang Dynasty, describing siege mentality among threatened officials. The natural imagery vividly captured how fear transforms ordinary surroundings into perceived threats. Modern usage describes how anxiety can distort perception, particularly relevant in high-stress situations where past trauma influences current judgment.
When to Use
Situation: After the security breach, the paranoid CEO suspected every employee of potential espionage
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about mental states
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 草木皆兵 mean in English?
草木皆兵 (cǎo mù jiē bīng) literally translates to “Grass trees all soldiers” and is used to express “Extreme paranoia sees threats everywhere”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Mental States category.
When is 草木皆兵 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving extreme paranoia sees threats everywhere.
What is the pinyin for 草木皆兵?
The pinyin pronunciation for 草木皆兵 is “cǎo mù jiē bīng”.