坐立不安
坐立不安 (zuò lì bù ān) literally means “cannot sit or stand peacefully” and expresses “extremely restless and anxious”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: zuo li bu an, zuo li bu an,坐立不安 meaning, 坐立不安 in english
Extremely restless and anxious
Pronunciation: zuò lì bù ān Literal meaning: Cannot sit or stand peacefully
Origin & Usage
Unable to settle (不安) either sitting (坐) or standing (立). The phrase reports posture rather than feeling, and that is where its force comes from: the anxiety is something an observer infers from a body that keeps changing its mind. It is therefore more specific than worry, and it fits one kind of waiting in particular — for a result, a verdict, somebody who is late. The person out in the corridor, with the implication that they have nothing to do and nowhere useful to put themselves.
Examples
English: "Waiting for the exam results made her extremely restless."
Chinese: 等待考试结果让她坐立不安。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
安步当车
ān bù dàng chē
Choose simpler pleasures over status displays
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安如泰山
ān rú tài shān
Absolutely stable and unshakable
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居安思危
jū ān sī wēi
Be prepared for danger in times of safety
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姑息养奸
gū xī yǎng jiān
Leniency encourages worse behavior
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坐怀不乱
zuò huái bù luàn
Maintain perfect integrity despite temptation
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三十而立
sān shí ér lì
Establish maturity
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如坐针毡
rú zuò zhēn zhān
Extreme discomfort
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同病相怜
tóng bìng xiāng lián
Sympathize with those sharing similar troubles
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 坐立不安 mean in English?
坐立不安 (zuò lì bù ān) literally translates to “Cannot sit or stand peacefully” and is used to express “Extremely restless and anxious”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 坐立不安 used?
Situation: Waiting for the exam results made her extremely restless.
What is the pinyin for 坐立不安?
The pinyin pronunciation for 坐立不安 is “zuò lì bù ān”.