提心吊胆
提心吊胆 (tí xīn diào dǎn) literally means “lift heart hang gall” and expresses “extreme anxiety with physical symptoms”. 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: ti xin diao dan, ti xin diao dan,提心吊胆 meaning, 提心吊胆 in english
Extreme anxiety with physical symptoms
Pronunciation: tí xīn diào dǎn Literal meaning: Lift heart hang gall
Origin & Usage
This idiom originated from Song Dynasty medical descriptions of physiological responses to terror. It first appeared in clinical texts explaining how fear affects internal organs before becoming metaphorical. During the Ming Dynasty, vernacular literature adopted it to describe characters experiencing prolonged dread. The sensation of one's heart lifted up (提心) and gallbladder suspended (吊胆) created visceral imagery that was particularly powerful—traditional Chinese medicine considered these organs central to emotional stability, making their displacement emblematic of extreme distress. Unlike terms simply meaning 'worried,' it specifically describes consuming anxiety creating physical symptoms rather than mere concern. Modern usage spans psychological conditions to temporary situations, describing anxiety so intense it creates physical sensations, particularly when legitimate dangers create extended hypervigilance that itself becomes physically and mentally debilitating.
When to Use
Situation: The parents waited anxiously for their teenager to return home after midnight
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 提心吊胆 mean in English?
提心吊胆 (tí xīn diào dǎn) literally translates to “Lift heart hang gall” and is used to express “Extreme anxiety with physical symptoms”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 提心吊胆 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving extreme anxiety with physical symptoms.
What is the pinyin for 提心吊胆?
The pinyin pronunciation for 提心吊胆 is “tí xīn diào dǎn”.