小心翼翼
小心翼翼 (xiǎo xīn yì yì) literally means “small heart wing wing” and expresses “act with extreme caution and care”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: xiao xin yi yi, xiao xin yi yi,小心翼翼 meaning, 小心翼翼 in english
Act with extreme caution and care
Pronunciation: xiǎo xīn yì yì Literal meaning: Small heart wing wing
Origin & Usage
From the ancient verses of the 'Book of Songs' (1000-600 BCE) comes this image of approaching tasks with a cautious heart (小心) and bird-like alertness (翼翼). Court officials first used it to describe navigating treacherous political environments. Han Dynasty writers expanded its use to describe handling anything precious or fragile. The avian metaphor perfectly captured the combination of focused attention and readiness to retreat from danger. Modern conservators and diplomats still embody this careful approach where one wrong move could cause irreparable damage.
Examples
English: "The restoration expert handled the ancient manuscript with extreme caution"
Chinese: 修复专家极其谨慎地处理这份古代手稿
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
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一模一样
yī mú yī yàng
Exactly identical
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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一石二鸟
yī shí èr niǎo
Two goals with one action
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三思而行
sān sī ér xíng
Think thrice before acting
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胸有成竹
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
Have clear plan beforehand
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闻鸡起舞
wén jī qǐ wǔ
Practice with determination
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 小心翼翼 mean in English?
小心翼翼 (xiǎo xīn yì yì) literally translates to “Small heart wing wing” and is used to express “Act with extreme caution and care”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 小心翼翼 used?
Situation: The restoration expert handled the ancient manuscript with extreme caution
What is the pinyin for 小心翼翼?
The pinyin pronunciation for 小心翼翼 is “xiǎo xīn yì yì”.