患得患失
患得患失 (huàn dé huàn shī) literally means “worry about gain, worry about loss” and expresses “constantly anxious about gains and losses”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: huan de huan shi, huan de huan shi,患得患失 meaning, 患得患失 in english
Constantly anxious about gains and losses
Pronunciation: huàn dé huàn shī Literal meaning: Worry about gain, worry about loss
Origin & Usage
This idiom comes from 'The Analects of Confucius,' where it describes petty people who worry (患) about gaining (得) before they have something, then worry about losing (失) it once obtained. Confucius contrasted this anxious mindset with the equanimity of the superior person. The phrase critiques attachment to outcomes that prevents peace of mind. It reflects Buddhist and Daoist influences on Chinese philosophy regarding non-attachment. Modern usage describes anxious, calculating mindsets that undermine happiness and effectiveness.
Examples
English: "His constant anxiety about success prevented him from enjoying the present."
Chinese: 他患得患失的心态让他无法享受当下。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 患得患失 mean in English?
患得患失 (huàn dé huàn shī) literally translates to “Worry about gain, worry about loss” and is used to express “Constantly anxious about gains and losses”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 患得患失 used?
Situation: His constant anxiety about success prevented him from enjoying the present.
What is the pinyin for 患得患失?
The pinyin pronunciation for 患得患失 is “huàn dé huàn shī”.