不动声色 Bù dòng shēng sè Unmoved and undisturbed

Explanation

不动声色指的是在紧急情况下，说话、神态仍跟平时一样没有变化，形容非常镇定。在面临突发事件时，保持冷静、镇定，不慌不乱，才能更好地解决问题。

Unmoved and undisturbed describes a state of calmness and composure, even in emergency situations, where one's speech and facial expressions remain unchanged. It portrays someone who is incredibly composed. When faced with sudden events, staying calm and collected, without panicking, is crucial to effectively solving problems.

Origin Story

古代战国时期，有一位名叫孙膑的军事家，他智谋过人，深得齐威王的赏识。一次，齐威王要出征，孙膑献计，让齐军在军队中隐藏起来，然后派出一小队人马去敌军大营，故意丢下一些武器，并故意制造出慌张逃跑的假象。敌军看到齐军溃败，便蜂拥追击，孙膑早已率领主力部队在埋伏的地方等候，最终将敌军一举击溃。孙膑在敌军追击的时候，一直不动声色地指挥着部队，从容应对敌人的攻击，最终取得了胜利。

gǔ dài zhàn guó shí qī, yǒu yī wèi míng jiào sūn bìn de jūn shì jiā, tā zhì móu guò rén, shēn de qí wēi wáng de shǎng shí. yī cì, qí wēi wáng yào chū zhēng, sūn bìn xiàn jì, ràng qí jūn zài jūn duì zhōng yǐn cáng qǐ lái, rán hòu pài chū yī xiǎo duì rén mǎ qù dí jūn dà yíng, gù yì diū xià yī xiē wǔ qì, bìng gù yì zhì zào chū huāng zhāng táo pǎo de jiǎ xiàng. dí jūn kàn dào qí jūn kuì bài, biàn fēng yōng zhuī jī, sūn bìn zǎo yǐ shuài lǐng zhǔ lì bù duì zài mái fú de dì fāng děng hòu, zuì zhōng jiāng dí jūn yī jǔ jī kuì. sūn bìn zài dí jūn zhuī jī de shí hòu, yī zhí bù dòng shēng sè de zhǐ huī zhe bù duì, cóng róng yìng duì dí rén de gōng jī, zuì zhōng qǔ dé le shèng lì.

In ancient China during the Warring States period, there was a military strategist named Sun Bin, who was known for his intelligence and strategic abilities. One day, the King of Qi was about to go to war, and Sun Bin advised him to hide his army and send a small detachment to the enemy camp, deliberately dropping some weapons and pretending to flee in panic. When the enemy army saw the defeat of the Qi army, they swarmed in pursuit. However, Sun Bin had already deployed his main force in an ambush and ultimately defeated the enemy army. While the enemy was in pursuit, Sun Bin remained calm and commanded his troops, calmly responding to the enemy's attacks, and ultimately achieved victory.

Usage

在紧张、危险的处境下，人们通常会感到焦虑不安，甚至慌乱失措。而不动声色则要求人们在这样的情况下保持冷静，不表露自己的情绪，以更好的应对局面。

zài jǐn zhāng, wēi xiǎn de chǔ jìng xià, rén men tóng cháng huì gǎn dào jiāo lǜ bù ān, shèn zhì huāng luàn shī cuò. ér bù dòng shēng sè zé yào qiú rén men zài zhè yàng de chǔ jìng xià bǎo chí lěng jìng, bù biǎo lù zì jǐ de qíng xù, yǐ gèng hǎo de yìng duì jú miàn.

In stressful or dangerous situations, people tend to feel anxious and uneasy, even panicking. However, unmoved and undisturbed requires people to remain calm in such situations, not showing their emotions, in order to better handle the situation.

Examples

• 面对突如其来的意外，他却不动声色，镇定自若地处理着一切。

  miàn duì tú rú lái de yì wài, tā què bù dòng shēng sè, zhèn dìng zì ruò de chǔ lǐ zhe yī qiè.

  He remained calm and composed in the face of the sudden accident, handling everything calmly.

• 他表面不动声色，内心却早已波涛汹涌。

  tā biǎo miàn bù dòng shēng sè, nèi xīn què zǎo yǐ bō tāo xiōng yǒng.

  He was outwardly calm, but inwardly a storm was raging in him.

• 她不动声色地观察着周围的人，寻找着机会。

  tā bù dòng shēng sè de guān chá zhe zhōu wéi de rén, xún zhǎo zhe jī huì.

  She discreetly observed the people around her, looking for an opportunity.

Related Idioms

• 泰然自若

• 镇定自若

• 不露声色

Opposite Idioms

• 惊慌失措

• 手足无措

• 不知所措