忐忑不安
忐忑不安 (tǎn tè bù ān) literally means “heart unsettled and uneasy” and expresses “feel anxious and uneasy”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: tan te bu an, tan te bu an,忐忑不安 meaning, 忐忑不安 in english
Feel anxious and uneasy
Pronunciation: tǎn tè bù ān Literal meaning: Heart unsettled and uneasy
Origin & Usage
忐 and 忑 are 上 and 下 written over 心 — heart up, heart down — which is about as literal as Chinese characters get, and it is the best thing about the phrase. The pair describes the lurch rather than the worry, so what is reported is the physical sensation of a heart that will not settle (不安). Waiting for results, the minutes before an interview, the hours after sending something that cannot be recalled.
Examples
English: "She felt nervous waiting for the interview results."
Chinese: 等待面试结果时，她忐忑不安。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
坐立不安
zuò lì bù ān
Extremely restless and anxious
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安步当车
ān bù dàng chē
Choose simpler pleasures over status displays
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安居乐业
ān jū lè yè
Live peacefully and work happily
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安然无恙
ān rán wú yàng
Completely safe and unharmed through danger
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安如泰山
ān rú tài shān
Absolutely stable and unshakable
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心安理得
xīn ān lǐ dé
Feel at ease with a clear conscience
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 忐忑不安 mean in English?
忐忑不安 (tǎn tè bù ān) literally translates to “Heart unsettled and uneasy” and is used to express “Feel anxious and uneasy”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 忐忑不安 used?
Situation: She felt nervous waiting for the interview results.
What is the pinyin for 忐忑不安?
The pinyin pronunciation for 忐忑不安 is “tǎn tè bù ān”.