福无双至
福无双至 (fú wú shuāng zhì) literally means “blessings do not come in pairs” and expresses “fortune is rare”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: fu wu shuang zhi, fu wu shuang zhi,福无双至 meaning, 福无双至 in english
Fortune is rare
Pronunciation: fú wú shuāng zhì Literal meaning: Blessings do not come in pairs
Origin & Usage
The idiom 福无双至 (fú wú shuāng zhì) originates from the Western Han period, specifically from Liu Xiang's compilation 《说苑·权谋》. The original phrase was 福不重至，祸必重来, which later evolved into the more commonly known 福无双至，祸不单行. This phrase highlights the belief that blessings (福, blessings) do not come in pairs (无双, not in pairs), while misfortunes (祸, misfortune) often come in succession. The idiom is frequently used in classical Chinese literature, such as in the Ming dynasty novel 《水浒传》, to emphasize the unpredictable nature of fortune and the tendency for misfortunes to follow one another. In modern usage, it serves as a reminder to remain cautious and realistic about life's ups and downs, acknowledging that good fortune is rare and often fleeting.
Examples
English: "He realized that good luck is often fleeting and rare."
Chinese: 他意识到好运往往是短暂而稀有的。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 福无双至 mean in English?
福无双至 (fú wú shuāng zhì) literally translates to “Blessings do not come in pairs” and is used to express “Fortune is rare”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 福无双至 used?
Situation: He realized that good luck is often fleeting and rare.
What is the pinyin for 福无双至?
The pinyin pronunciation for 福无双至 is “fú wú shuāng zhì”.