如释重负

Pronunciation: rú shì zhòng fù Literal meaning: As if releasing a heavy burden

Origin & Usage

The idiom 如释重负 (rú shì zhòng fù) originates from the historical text 《左传》, specifically from the account of the 29th year of Duke Zhao of Lu. In this story, Duke Zhao, a ruler who had lost the support of his people due to his neglect of state affairs, was eventually forced to flee his country. The citizens, burdened by his ineffective rule, felt a sense of relief as if a heavy load had been lifted from their shoulders. The characters in the idiom break down as follows: 如 (rú) means 'as if', 释 (shì) means 'to release', 重 (zhòng) means 'heavy', and 负 (fù) means 'burden'. In modern usage, this idiom describes the feeling of relief and lightness after a significant burden or pressure is removed, often used when a difficult task is completed or a stressful situation is resolved.

Examples

English: "After finally finishing her thesis, she felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders."

Chinese: 她终于完成了论文，感觉如释重负。