怨天尤人 yuàn tiān yóu rén blame fate/others

Explanation

指遇到挫折或出了问题，一味抱怨天，责怪别人。

To blame others or fate for setbacks or problems.

Origin Story

春秋时期，齐国大夫晏婴以其高尚的品德和卓越的才能受到齐景公的重用。一次，齐景公问晏婴：“卿以为人臣，当如何处事？”晏婴说：“臣以为人臣，当忠于国君，尽力为民。若有功劳，则不居功自傲；若有错误，则不怨天尤人，及时改正。”齐景公很赞赏晏婴的这种态度，并把他的话作为自己为政的准则。后来，晏婴被封为上卿，仍旧谦虚谨慎，从不居功自傲，遇到问题也从不怨天尤人，而是认真分析原因，寻找解决问题的办法。晏婴的这种精神，一直被后人所传颂。

chūnqiū shíqī, qí guó dàifū yàn yīng yǐ qí gāoshàng de píndé hé zhuóyuè de cáinéng shòudào qí jǐnggōng de zhòngyòng. yīcì, qí jǐnggōng wèn yàn yīng："qīng yǐwéi rénchén, dāng rúhé chǔshì？" yàn yīng shuō："chén yǐwéi rénchén, dāng zhōng yú guójūn, jìnlì wèi mín. ruò yǒu gōngláo, zé bù jūgōng zì'ào；ruò yǒu cuòwù, zé bù yuàn tiān yóu rén, jíshí gǎizhèng." qí jǐnggōng zěn zànshǎng yàn yīng de zhè zhǒng tàidu, bìng bǎ tā de huà zuòwéi zìjǐ wèizhèng de zhǔnzé. hòulái, yàn yīng bèi fēng wéi shàng qīng, réngjiù qiānxū jǐn shèn, cóng bù jūgōng zì'ào, yùdào wèntí yě cóng bù yuàn tiān yóu rén, érshì rènzhēn fēnxī yuányīn, xúnzhǎo jiějué wèntí de bànfǎ. yàn yīng de zhè zhǒng jīngshen, yīzhí bèi hòurén suǒ chuánsòng.

During the Spring and Autumn period, Yan Ying, a high-ranking official of the State of Qi, was highly regarded by Duke Jing of Qi for his noble character and outstanding abilities. Once, Duke Jing asked Yan Ying, "What do you think a minister should do?" Yan Ying replied, "I think a minister should be loyal to the monarch and do his best for the people. If he has merit, he should not be arrogant; if he makes mistakes, he should not blame others or fate, but correct them in time." Duke Jing highly praised Yan Ying's attitude and took his words as a guideline for his governance. Later, Yan Ying was appointed as the highest-ranking minister, but he remained humble and cautious, never arrogant about his achievements, and never blamed others or fate when problems arose, instead carefully analyzing the causes and seeking solutions. Yan Ying's spirit has been passed down through the generations.

Usage

形容遇到挫折或问题时，只顾抱怨天，责怪别人。

xiáoróng yùdào cuòzhé huò wèntí shí, zhǐgù bàoyuàn tiān, zéguài biérén

Describes the behavior of blaming heaven or others for setbacks or problems.

Examples

• 他总是怨天尤人，从来不反省自己。

  tā zǒngshì yuàn tiān yóu rén, cónglái bù fǎnxǐng zìjǐ

  He always blames others and never reflects on himself.

• 遇到困难，不要怨天尤人，而应该积极寻找解决方法。

  yùdào kùnnan, bùyào yuàn tiān yóu rén, ér yīnggāi jījí xúnzhǎo jiějué fāngfǎ

  When encountering difficulties, don't blame others, but actively seek solutions.

Related Idioms

• 埋怨

• 抱怨

Opposite Idioms

• 任劳任怨

• 自强不息