心急如焚 anxious as if one's heart is on fire
Explanation
形容心里非常着急，像火烧一样难受。
Describes the feeling of being extremely anxious, as if burning with fire.
Origin Story
战国时期，秦国大军压境，燕国岌岌可危，燕昭王心急如焚。他四处求贤，最终找到了乐毅，并拜他为上将军。乐毅励精图治，整顿军备，终于在伊阙之战中大败齐军，为燕国赢得了喘息之机。但燕昭王依然心急如焚，他知道秦国虎视眈眈，随时可能再次入侵。于是，他继续励精图治，修筑城防，积蓄力量，为保卫国家做着不懈的努力。
During the Warring States period, the Qin army pressed the border, and Yan was in imminent danger. King Zhao of Yan was very anxious. He sought talents everywhere and finally found Le Yi, whom he appointed as the supreme general. Le Yi worked hard to govern the country, reorganized the army, and finally defeated the Qi army in the Battle of Yi Que, winning a respite for Yan. But King Zhao of Yan was still very anxious. He knew that Qin was eager to invade, and might invade again at any time. Therefore, he continued to work hard, build city defenses, and accumulate strength to make unremitting efforts to defend the country.
Usage
作谓语、状语；形容心里非常着急。
As predicate, adverbial; describes the extremely anxious feeling in the heart.
Examples
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听到这个坏消息，他心急如焚，坐立不安。
tīng dào zhège huài xiāoxī, tā xīn jí rú fén, zuòlì bù'ān。
Hearing the bad news, he was very anxious and restless.
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考试临近，他心急如焚，每天都学习到深夜。
kǎoshì línjìn, tā xīn jí rú fén, měitiān dōu xuéxí dào shēnyè。
The exam was approaching, he was anxious and studied until late every night.
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眼看就要错过末班车了，我心急如焚，拼命地跑着。
yǎnkàn jiù yào cuòguò mòbān chē le, wǒ xīn jí rú fén, pīnmìng de pǎo zhe。
I was anxious to miss the last bus, and I ran desperately.