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 life philosophy.
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.
Examples
English: "After the security breach, the paranoid CEO suspected every employee of potential espionage"
Chinese: 在安全漏洞事件后，这位偏执的首席执行官怀疑每位员工都可能从事间谍活动
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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 Life Philosophy category.
When is 草木皆兵 used?
Situation: After the security breach, the paranoid CEO suspected every employee of potential espionage
What is the pinyin for 草木皆兵?
The pinyin pronunciation for 草木皆兵 is “cǎo mù jiē bīng”.
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