呆若木鸡
呆若木鸡 (dāi ruò mù jī) literally means “dumbfounded like wooden chicken” and expresses “completely stunned or dumbfounded”. 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: dai ruo mu ji, dai ruo mu ji,呆若木鸡 meaning, 呆若木鸡 in english
Completely stunned or dumbfounded
Pronunciation: dāi ruò mù jī Literal meaning: Dumbfounded like wooden chicken
Origin & Usage
Zhuangzi's Daoist texts introduced this vivid image of being stunned (呆) like a wooden chicken (木鸡), originally describing meditation-induced stillness. Han Dynasty writers transformed it into a description of shock-induced paralysis. The comparison to a wooden chicken proved particularly apt - these normally active birds becoming unnaturally still perfectly captured the essence of stunned immobility.
When to Use
Situation: Upon hearing the unexpected news, the entire committee sat motionless in shock
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 呆若木鸡 mean in English?
呆若木鸡 (dāi ruò mù jī) literally translates to “Dumbfounded like wooden chicken” and is used to express “Completely stunned or dumbfounded”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 呆若木鸡 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving completely stunned or dumbfounded.
What is the pinyin for 呆若木鸡?
The pinyin pronunciation for 呆若木鸡 is “dāi ruò mù jī”.