顺其自然

Pronunciation: shùn qí zì rán Literal meaning: Follow its natural course

Origin & Usage

Going along with (顺) the way things are of themselves (自然). 自然 is literally self-so, what a thing is when nothing is being done to it, and the phrase belongs to the Daoist argument that intervention usually costs more than it returns. It is not passivity and Chinese does not use it that way: it is advice offered at the specific point where effort has stopped helping. Said to somebody agonising over a decision that is no longer theirs it is a kindness; said too early it is an evasion.

Examples

English: "Instead of forcing things, she decided to let events unfold naturally."

Chinese: 她决定顺其自然，不再强求。