愁肠百结 chóu cháng bǎi jié heartbreak

Explanation

愁肠百结，是指忧愁的心肠好像凝结成了许多的疙瘩，形容愁绪郁结，难以排遣。

The idiom describes a heart filled with such sorrow that it seems to be knotted together in many places. It is an expression of overwhelming sadness and worry that is difficult to overcome.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，一位名叫李白的诗人，因政治原因遭贬谪，流落江湖。他怀才不遇，心中郁结，常常在夜深人静时独自饮酒。一日，他乘船漂泊于长江之上，望着滔滔江水，不禁想起自己坎坷的人生经历，愁肠百结。他想起自己曾经的意气风发，想起自己曾经的梦想，想起自己如今的落魄，不禁泪流满面。他拿出笔墨，在船舷上写下一首诗，表达自己内心的苦闷和无奈。诗中写道：'浮生若梦，为欢几何？古来圣贤皆寂寞，唯有饮者留其名。'写完诗后，他将诗稿投入江中，任其漂流而去。他抬头仰望天空，心中感慨万千。他不知道自己未来的路在何方，但他知道自己必须继续走下去。

huà shuō táng cháo shíqī, yī wèi míng jiào lǐ bái de shī rén, yīn zhèngzhì yuányīn zāo biǎn zhé, liúlò jiāng hú. tā huáicái bù yù, xīn zhōng yù jié, cháng cháng zài yè shēn rén jìng shí dú zì yǐn jiǔ. yī rì, tā chéng chuán piāobó yú cháng jiāng zhī shàng, wàng zhe tāo tāo jiāng shuǐ, bù jīn xiǎng qǐ zì jǐ kǎn kě de rén shēng jīng lì, chóu cháng bǎi jié. tā xiǎng qǐ zì jǐ céng jīng de yì qì fēng fā, xiǎng qǐ zì jǐ céng jīng de mèng xiǎng, xiǎng qǐ zì jǐ rú jīn de luò pò, bù jīn lèi liú mǎn miàn. tā ná chū bǐ mò, zài chuán xián shàng xiě xià yī shǒu shī, biǎo dá zì jǐ nèi xīn de kǔ mèn hé wú nài. shī zhōng xiě dào: 'fú shēng ruò mèng, wèi huān jǐ hé? gǔ lái shèng xián jiē jìmò, wéi yǒu yǐn zhě liú qí míng.' xiě wán shī hòu, tā jiāng shī gǎo tóu rù jiāng zhōng, rèn qí piāo liú ér qù. tā tái tóu yǎng wàng tiān kōng, xīn zhōng gǎn kǎi wàn qiān. tā bù zhī dào zì jǐ wèi lái de lù zài hé fāng, dàn tā zhī dào zì jǐ bì xū jì xù zǒu xià qù.

During the Tang Dynasty, a poet named Li Bai was exiled because of political reasons and drifted through the world. He was unhappy about his talent not being used, and often felt depressed in his heart, especially in the quiet hours of the night when he was drinking alone. One day, while drifting on the Yangtze River, he looked at the surging river water, and couldn't help but think of his difficult life experiences, his heart filled with worries. He recalled his former spirit and dreams, his former pride, and his present poverty, tears flowing down his face. He took out his pen and ink and wrote a poem on the ship's side, expressing his inner unhappiness and helplessness. The poem said: 'Life is like a dream, how much joy is there? Since ancient times, wise men have been lonely, only those who drink leave their names behind.' After writing the poem, he threw the manuscript into the river, letting it drift away. He looked up at the sky, his heart full of emotion. He didn't know where his future path would lead, but he knew he had to keep moving forward.

Usage

用于形容内心忧愁苦闷，难以排遣的心情。

yòng yú miáoshù nèi xīn yōu chóu kǔ mèn, nán yǐ pái qiǎn de xīnqíng.

Used to describe a feeling of inner sadness and distress that is difficult to dispel.

Examples

• 她听到这个噩耗后，愁肠百结，泪流满面。

  tā tīng dào zhège è hāo hòu, chóu cháng bǎi jié,lèi liú mǎn miàn.

  She was heartbroken and wept when she heard the bad news.

• 面对接踵而来的困难，他愁肠百结，不知所措。

  miàn duì jiē zhǒng ér lái de kùnnan, tā chóu cháng bǎi jié, bù zhī suǒ cuò.

  Faced with the successive difficulties,he was distressed and at a loss.

Related Idioms

• 愁肠寸断

• 忧心忡忡

Opposite Idioms

• 沾沾自喜

• 洋洋得意