8 Healing Chinese Idioms for Get Well Soon Wishes

Leniency encourages worse behavior

Literal meaning: Tolerate evil, nurture harm

This enabling idiom describes temporarily tolerating (姑息) problems and thereby nurturing (养) future harm (奸), originating from Han Dynasty governmental warnings. It first appeared in administrative texts cautioning against short-term appeasement of problems that would grow more serious if not proper...

Choose simpler pleasures over status displays

Literal meaning: Peaceful walking substitutes carriage

This idiom originated from the 'Eastern Han Records' biography of Cui Yuan, an official who declined the emperor's gift of a carriage, preferring to walk and appreciate nature's beauty. During the Tang Dynasty, it became emblematic of the scholarly ideal of finding joy in simplicity. The contrast be...

Live peacefully and work happily

Literal meaning: Peaceful dwelling happy occupation

This idiom originated from Han Dynasty governmental ideals in the 'Book of Han,' first appearing as an administrative goal representing balanced prosperity. During the Tang Dynasty, it became standard terminology in policy documents measuring governance success. The pairing of peaceful dwelling (安居)...

Completely safe and unharmed through danger

Literal meaning: Peaceful without illness

This idiom originated from the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms' describing survivors of catastrophe. The term '恙' originally referred specifically to plague or epidemic disease before broadening to general harm. During the Jin Dynasty, it became shorthand in military reporting for troops surviving da...

Absolutely stable and unshakable

Literal meaning: Stable like Mount Tai

This idiom originated from Han Dynasty political discourse about dynastic security, first appearing in imperial edicts describing the desired permanence of imperial rule. During the Tang Dynasty, it extended beyond political contexts to describe any unshakable entity. The comparison of being stable ...

Extremely restless and anxious

Literal meaning: Cannot sit or stand peacefully

This idiom describes the physical manifestation of anxiety where one can neither sit (坐) nor stand (立) comfortably, finding no peace (不安) in any position. The phrase captures the restless energy of worry that prevents physical stillness. It appears in classical Chinese literature describing characte...

Be prepared for danger in times of safety

Literal meaning: Dwelling in peace think of danger

This idiom advises thinking of (思) danger (危) while dwelling in (居) peace (安). It comes from 'Zuozhuan,' an ancient Chinese chronicle, warning against complacency during good times. The phrase embodies the wisdom of preparation and foresight. Chinese history provided many examples of kingdoms that f...

Sympathize with those sharing similar troubles

Literal meaning: Same illness mutually sympathize

This idiom describes those with the same (同) illness or affliction (病) mutually (相) sympathizing (怜). It captures the special understanding between people who share similar suffering. The phrase originated in Han Dynasty texts describing exiles who found comfort in shared misfortune. Modern usage de...