饱食终日
饱食终日 (bǎo shí zhōng rì) literally means “well-fed all day” and expresses “idle and unproductive”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bao shi zhong ri, bao shi zhong ri,饱食终日 meaning, 饱食终日 in english
Idle and unproductive
Pronunciation: bǎo shí zhōng rì Literal meaning: Well-fed all day
Origin & Usage
This idiom, 饱食终日 (bǎo shí zhōng rì), originates from the Analects of Confucius (论语, Lúnyǔ), specifically from the 'Yang Huo' chapter. Confucius criticized those who spend their days well-fed (饱食, bǎo shí) without engaging their minds or contributing to society. He emphasized the importance of using one's time wisely and being proactive in learning and self-improvement. The characters paint a vivid image of someone who eats their fill all day (终日, zhōng rì) yet remains idle and unproductive. In modern usage, this idiom serves as a caution against complacency and encourages individuals to seek meaningful pursuits rather than indulging in idle comfort.
Examples
English: "He spends his days indulging in food without any thought for the future."
Chinese: 他整天饱食终日，毫无未来的考虑。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 饱食终日 mean in English?
饱食终日 (bǎo shí zhōng rì) literally translates to “Well-fed all day” and is used to express “Idle and unproductive”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 饱食终日 used?
Situation: He spends his days indulging in food without any thought for the future.
What is the pinyin for 饱食终日?
The pinyin pronunciation for 饱食终日 is “bǎo shí zhōng rì”.