喜怒无常
喜怒无常 (xǐ nù wú cháng) literally means “joy and anger without constancy” and expresses “be moody; have unpredictable emotions”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: xi nu wu chang, xi nu wu chang,喜怒无常 meaning, 喜怒无常 in english
Be moody; have unpredictable emotions
Pronunciation: xǐ nù wú cháng
Literal meaning: Joy and anger without constancy
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes having joy (喜) and anger (怒) without (无) consistency (常). It depicts someone whose emotions are unpredictable and volatile. The phrase appeared in historical texts describing capricious rulers whose moods endangered their subjects. Modern usage describes moody, emotionally unstable individuals whose unpredictability creates stress for those around them.
Examples
English: "Working for someone with unpredictable moods is exhausting."
Chinese: 为一个喜怒无常的人工作令人精疲力竭。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 喜怒无常 mean in English?
喜怒无常 (xǐ nù wú cháng) literally translates to “Joy and anger without constancy” and is used to express “Be moody; have unpredictable emotions”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 喜怒无常 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving be moody; have unpredictable emotions.
What is the pinyin for 喜怒无常?
The pinyin pronunciation for 喜怒无常 is “xǐ nù wú cháng”.