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
This idiom describes a heart that is agitated (忐忑) and not (不) at peace (安). The characters 忐忑 are onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound and feeling of a heart beating irregularly with anxiety. The phrase captures the physical sensation of nervousness and worry. Modern usage describes anxiety, apprehension, and the restless feeling before uncertain outcomes.
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
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yī bō sān zhé
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gǎi xié guī zhèng
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Love ease, hate work
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sài wēng shī mǎ
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yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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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”.