无所事事
无所事事 (wú suǒ shì shì) literally means “nothing to do as occupation” and expresses “have nothing to do; be idle”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: wu suo shi shi, wu suo shi shi,无所事事 meaning, 无所事事 in english
Have nothing to do; be idle
Pronunciation: wú suǒ shì shì
Literal meaning: Nothing to do as occupation
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes having nothing (无所) to do as one's occupation (事事). It depicts a state of idleness where one has no meaningful activities or responsibilities. The phrase can describe temporary boredom, chronic aimlessness, or forced inactivity. It appeared in classical texts often critically, as Chinese culture valued industriousness. Modern usage describes periods of having nothing productive to do, whether temporary situations or more concerning patterns of purposelessness.
Examples
English: "After retirement, he felt aimless with nothing to occupy his time."
Chinese: 退休后，他无所事事，感到很迷茫。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 无所事事 mean in English?
无所事事 (wú suǒ shì shì) literally translates to “Nothing to do as occupation” and is used to express “Have nothing to do; be idle”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 无所事事 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving have nothing to do; be idle.
What is the pinyin for 无所事事?
The pinyin pronunciation for 无所事事 is “wú suǒ shì shì”.