如坐针毡

Pronunciation: rú zuò zhēn zhān Literal meaning: As if sitting on needles

Origin & Usage

The idiom 如坐针毡 (rú zuò zhēn zhān) originates from a story in the Jin Dynasty, as recorded in the historical text 《晋书·杜锡传》. It tells of Du Xi (杜锡), a loyal official serving the crown prince Sima Yu (愍怀太子). Despite Du Xi's earnest advice, the prince resented him and, in a cruel prank, placed needles in the mat where Du Xi would sit. Unaware, Du Xi sat down and was pricked, yet he remained composed, illustrating his dedication and understanding of his duty. The idiom breaks down to 如 (as if), 坐 (sit), 针 (needle), 毡 (mat), vividly painting a picture of sitting on a mat of needles. In modern usage, it describes a state of extreme discomfort or anxiety, often due to a tense or precarious situation.

Examples

English: "During the tense negotiation, he felt like he was sitting on needles, unable to relax."

Chinese: 在紧张的谈判中，他感觉如坐针毡，无法放松。