高枕无忧
高枕无忧 (gāo zhěn wú yōu) literally means “high pillow no worry” and expresses “completely free from worry or concern”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: gao zhen wu you, gao zhen wu you,高枕无忧 meaning, 高枕无忧 in english
Completely free from worry or concern
Pronunciation: gāo zhěn wú yōu Literal meaning: High pillow no worry
Origin & Usage
Tang Dynasty poets first used this image of resting head on high pillow (高枕) without worry (无忧) to praise effective governance that allowed people to sleep soundly. Song Dynasty writers expanded it beyond political contexts to describe any circumstance enabling complete peace of mind. The physical posture of sleeping with an elevated head perfectly embodied the psychological security that allows complete vulnerability.
Examples
English: "After installing the security system, the homeowners slept without concern"
Chinese: 安装了安全系统后，房主高枕无忧地睡觉
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 高枕无忧 mean in English?
高枕无忧 (gāo zhěn wú yōu) literally translates to “High pillow no worry” and is used to express “Completely free from worry or concern”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 高枕无忧 used?
Situation: After installing the security system, the homeowners slept without concern
What is the pinyin for 高枕无忧?
The pinyin pronunciation for 高枕无忧 is “gāo zhěn wú yōu”.
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