不寒而栗
不寒而栗 (bù hán ér lì) literally means “shiver without cold” and expresses “fear-induced shivering”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bu han er li, bu han er li,不寒而栗 meaning, 不寒而栗 in english
Fear-induced shivering
Pronunciation: bù hán ér lì Literal meaning: Shiver without cold
Origin & Usage
The Records of the Grand Historian describes Yi Zong, an official of Emperor Wu's who executed more than four hundred people in a single day, and reports that afterwards the people of the district shivered (栗) though the weather was not (不) cold (寒). The phrase keeps the physiology exactly: the body producing a cold response with no cold present. News, discoveries and prospects that are frightening rather than merely bad — and it is stronger than the English 'chilling'.
Examples
English: "The eerie silence of the abandoned house made everyone feel a chill of fear."
Chinese: 废弃房屋的诡异寂静让每个人都感到一阵恐惧的寒意。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
唇亡齿寒
chún wáng chǐ hán
Fates linked together
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十年寒窗
shí nián hán chuāng
Diligent study
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火中取栗
huǒ zhōng qǔ lì
Used by others
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脱颖而出
tuō yǐng ér chū
Stand out; distinguish oneself
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如履薄冰
rú lǚ bó bīng
Extreme caution in risky situations
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雪上加霜
xuě shàng jiā shuāng
Add insult to injury; make things worse
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冰天雪地
bīng tiān xuě dì
Harsh conditions
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奋不顾身
fèn bù gù shēn
Selfless courage
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不寒而栗 mean in English?
不寒而栗 (bù hán ér lì) literally translates to “Shiver without cold” and is used to express “Fear-induced shivering”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 不寒而栗 used?
Situation: The eerie silence of the abandoned house made everyone feel a chill of fear.
What is the pinyin for 不寒而栗?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不寒而栗 is “bù hán ér lì”.