身临其境
身临其境 (shēn lín qí jìng) literally means “body arrives at that situation” and expresses “feel as if personally present”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: shen lin qi jing, shen lin qi jing,身临其境 meaning, 身临其境 in english
Feel as if personally present
Pronunciation: shēn lín qí jìng
Literal meaning: Body arrives at that situation
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes one's body (身) arriving at (临) that (其) situation or place (境). It emphasizes experiential presence rather than remote observation. The phrase appeared in texts distinguishing direct experience from secondhand knowledge. It values immersive understanding that comes from personal involvement. Modern usage describes immersive experiences, realistic simulations, or vivid descriptions that transport the audience to feel present in another scene or situation.
Examples
English: "The virtual reality experience made users feel like they were really there."
Chinese: 虚拟现实体验让用户身临其境。
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Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
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Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
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Handle with ease; have skill to spare
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Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
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恰如其分
qià rú qí fèn
Perfectly appropriate; fitting exactly
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恰到好处
qià dào hǎo chù
Just right; perfectly appropriate
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shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 身临其境 mean in English?
身临其境 (shēn lín qí jìng) literally translates to “Body arrives at that situation” and is used to express “Feel as if personally present”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 身临其境 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving feel as if personally present.
What is the pinyin for 身临其境?
The pinyin pronunciation for 身临其境 is “shēn lín qí jìng”.