废寝忘食
废寝忘食 (fèi qǐn wàng shí) literally means “abandon sleep forget food” and expresses “so absorbed as to neglect basic needs”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: fei qin wang shi, fei qin wang shi,废寝忘食 meaning, 废寝忘食 in english
So absorbed as to neglect basic needs
Pronunciation: fèi qǐn wàng shí Literal meaning: Abandon sleep forget food
Origin & Usage
To give up (废) sleep (寝) and forget (忘) food (食). The two verbs are different and the difference matters: sleep is deliberately abandoned, and meals are simply not noticed. That combination is what the phrase describes — absorption deep enough that one need is sacrificed and the other never surfaces. Study, research, and anyone working through something that will not let them go — admiring rather than concerned.
Examples
English: "The researcher became so absorbed in the project she barely ate or slept for days"
Chinese: 研究人员对项目如此专注，以至于几天几乎不吃不睡
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
半途而废
bàn tú ér fèi
Quitting before completion
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披星戴月
pī xīng dài yuè
Work day and night
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精益求精
jīng yì qiú jīng
Constantly improve
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白手起家
bái shǒu qǐ jiā
Build up from nothing; self-made
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熟能生巧
shú néng shēng qiǎo
Practice makes perfect
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孜孜不倦
zī zī bù juàn
Work tirelessly and diligently
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自食其果
zì shí qí guǒ
Reap what one sows; suffer consequences
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饱食终日
bǎo shí zhōng rì
Idle and unproductive
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 废寝忘食 mean in English?
废寝忘食 (fèi qǐn wàng shí) literally translates to “Abandon sleep forget food” and is used to express “So absorbed as to neglect basic needs”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 废寝忘食 used?
Situation: The researcher became so absorbed in the project she barely ate or slept for days
What is the pinyin for 废寝忘食?
The pinyin pronunciation for 废寝忘食 is “fèi qǐn wàng shí”.