寝食不安 qǐn shí bù ān unable to eat or sleep

Explanation

形容心里非常不安，以至于睡不好觉，吃不好饭。

To describe someone who is extremely uneasy, to the point of being unable to sleep or eat well.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，边关告急，战事不断。一位名叫李靖的将军临危受命，前往边境抵御外敌。临行前，他夜不能寐，寝食不安，心中充满了焦虑与担忧。他深知此行凶险，不仅要面对强敌的入侵，还要应对恶劣的天气和补给的匮乏。他翻来覆去，在床上辗转难眠，脑海中不断浮现着将士们的面容，浮现着家乡的山水，也浮现着那无尽的战场硝烟。他知道，肩上的担子有多重，百姓的安危寄托在他身上。他知道，他必须以身作则，鼓舞士气，才能带领将士们战胜强敌。所以即使寝食不安，他也坚持到天明，整理好行装，毅然决然地踏上了征程。

huà shuō Táng cháo shíqī, biānguān gàojí, zhànshì bùduàn. yī wèi míng jiào Lǐ Jìng de jiāngjūn línwéi shòumìng, qiánwǎng biānjìng dǐyù wàidí. línxíng qián, tā yè bùnéng mèi, qǐnshí bù'ān, xīnzhōng chōngmǎn le jiāolǜ yǔ dānyōu. tā shēnzhī cǐxíng xiōngxiǎn, bùjǐn yào miàn duì qiángdí de rùqīn, hái yào yìngduì èliè de tiānqì hé bǔjǐ de kuìfá. tā fānláifùqù, zài chuáng shang zhǎnzhuǎn nánmián, nǎohǎi zhōng bùduàn fúxiànzhe jiàngshì men de miànróng, fúxiànzhe jiāxiāng de shānshuǐ, yě fúxiànzhe nà wújìn de zhànchǎng xiāoyān. tā zhīdào, jiānshang de dānzǐ yǒu duō zhòng, bǎixìng de ānwēi jìtuō zài tā shēnshang. tā zhīdào, tā bìxū yǐ shēn zuòzé, gǔwǔ shìqì, cáinéng dàilǐng jiàngshì men zhànshèng qiángdí. suǒyǐ jíshǐ qǐnshí bù'ān, tā yě jiānchí dào tiānmíng, zhěnglǐ hǎo xíngzhuāng, yìrán juérán de tà shàng le zhēngchéng.

During the Tang Dynasty, there was constant war on the border. A general named Li Jing was ordered to go to the border to defend against the enemy. Before he left, he could not sleep and was very worried. He knew the journey was dangerous, and he would face not only the enemy but also bad weather and lack of supplies. He tossed and turned in bed, his mind filled with the faces of his soldiers, the mountains and rivers of his hometown, and the endless smoke of war. He knew the weight of his responsibility and the safety of his people rested on his shoulders. He knew that he must lead by example and boost morale to lead his soldiers to victory. Despite his anxiety, he persevered until dawn, packed his bags and resolutely set off on his journey.

Usage

常用来形容人因忧虑或担心而吃不好饭，睡不好觉的状态。

cháng yòng lái xiānróng rén yīn yōulǜ huò dānxīn ér chī bù hǎo fàn, shuì bù hǎo jué de zhuàngtài

Often used to describe someone's state of not eating or sleeping well due to worry or anxiety.

Examples

• 自从孩子生病后，她寝食不安，整日忧心忡忡。

  zìcóng háizi shēngbìng hòu, tā qǐnshí bù'ān, zhěngrì yōuxīn chōngchōng

  Since her child fell ill, she has been unable to eat or sleep properly, worrying day and night.

• 考试临近，他寝食不安，夜不能寐。

  kǎoshì línjìn, tā qǐnshí bù'ān, yè bùnéng mèi

  With the exam approaching, he is restless and can't sleep at night.

Related Idioms

• 心神不定

• 坐立不安

• 心慌意乱

Opposite Idioms

• 心安理得

• 泰然自若