How do you pronounce 患得患失?

患得患失 is pronounced as "huàn dé huàn shī" in Mandarin Chinese.

患得患失

Q: What does 患得患失 mean?

患得患失 (huàn dé huàn shī) literally means "Worry about gain, worry about loss" and metaphorically means "Constantly anxious about gains and losses". It belongs to the Life Philosophy category of Chinese idioms.

Q: When is 患得患失 used?

患得患失 is used when His constant anxiety about success prevented him from enjoying the present..

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

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一波三折

yī bō sān zhé

Many twists and turns

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改邪归正

gǎi xié guī zhèng

Return to righteousness

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好逸恶劳

hào yì wù láo

Love ease, hate work

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物极必反

wù jí bì fǎn

Extremes lead to reversal

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塞翁失马

sài wēng shī mǎ

Misfortune might be a blessing

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近水楼台

jìn shuǐ lóu tái

Advantage from close connections

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夜郎自大

yè láng zì dà

Overestimate oneself

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因果报应

yīn guǒ bào yìng

Actions have consequences

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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.