战战兢兢 zhàn zhàn jīng jīng trembling with fear

Explanation

形容非常害怕而微微发抖的样子。也形容小心谨慎的样子。

Describes the state of being very frightened and trembling slightly. Also describes a cautious and careful state.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有个名叫李白的书生，怀揣着满腹经纶，千里迢迢地赶赴长安参加科举考试。长安城繁华似锦，人声鼎沸，但李白心中却忐忑不安。科举考试对他来说，意味着改变命运的机会，但他深知竞争激烈，稍有不慎就会名落孙山。一路奔波，他身心俱疲，当他终于站在考场门口时，他忍不住战战兢兢，双腿也不听使唤，微微颤抖。他深吸一口气，默默祈祷，希望自己能顺利通过考试，实现自己的抱负。进到考场后，他依然战战兢兢，如履薄冰，提笔落字都格外谨慎小心。考场气氛肃穆紧张，考生们都埋头苦写，生怕一个字写错，影响最终结果。李白虽紧张，却从未放弃努力，他把平时所学的知识和积累的经验都运用到考试中，认真地作答每一个题目。三天时间一晃而过，考试终于结束。李白离开考场后，长舒一口气，尽管仍然心存疑虑，但内心却也略感轻松。最终，李白金榜题名，高中状元。这个故事也说明，战战兢兢不仅仅是害怕，更多的是一种谨慎小心，对目标的执着追求。

huà shuō táng cháo shíqí, yǒu gè míng jiào lǐ bái de shūshēng, huáicuí zhe mǎnfù jīnglún, qiānlǐ tiáo tiáo de gǎn fù cháng'ān cānjiā kē jǔ kǎoshì. cháng'ān chéng fán huá sì jǐn, rén shēng dǐng fèi, dàn lǐ bái xīn zhōng què tàn tè bù'ān. kē jǔ kǎoshì duì tā lái shuō, yì wèi zhe gǎibiàn mìngyùn de jīhuì, dàn tā shēn zhī jìngzhēng jīliè, shāo yǒu bù shèn jiù huì míng luò sūn shān. yīlù bēnbō, tā xīn shēn jù pí, dāng tā zhōngyú zhàn zài kǎochǎng ménkǒu shí, tā rěn bù zhù zhàn zhàn jīng jīng, shuāng tuǐ yě bù tīng shǐ huàn, wēi wēi chàndǒu. tā shēn xī yī kǒu qì, mòmò qídǎo, xīwàng zìjǐ néng shùnlì tōngguò kǎoshì, shíxiàn zìjǐ de bàofù. jìn dào kǎochǎng hòu, tā yīrán zhàn zhàn jīng jīng, rú lǚ bó bīng, tí bǐ luò zì dōu gè wài jǐn shèn xiǎoxīn. kǎochǎng qìfēn sù mù jǐnzhāng, kǎoshēng men dōu máitóu kǔ xiě, shēngpà yīgè zì xiě cuò, yǐngxiǎng zuìzhōng jiéguǒ. lǐ bái suī jǐnzhāng, què cóng wèi fàngqì nǔlì, tā bǎ píngshí suǒ xué de zhīshì hé jīlěi de jīngyàn dōu yùnyòng dào kǎoshì zhōng, rènzhēn de zuò dá měi gè tímù. sān tiān shíjiān yī huǎng ér guò, kǎoshì zhōngyú jiéshù. lǐ bái líkāi kǎochǎng hòu, cháng shū yī kǒu qì, jǐnguǎn réngrán xīn cún yí lǜ, dàn nèixīn què yě luè gǎn qīngsōng. zuìzhōng, lǐ bái jīn bǎng tímíng, gāo zhōng zhuàngyuán. zhège gùshì yě shuōmíng, zhàn zhàn jīng jīng bù jǐn jǐng shì hàipà, gèng duō de shì yī zhǒng jǐn shèn xiǎoxīn, duì mùbiāo de zhízhuó zhuīqiú.

In the Tang Dynasty, there was a scholar named Li Bai who, with his vast knowledge, traveled a long way to Chang'an to participate in the imperial examinations. Chang'an was a prosperous city, bustling with noise and excitement, but Li Bai felt uneasy. The examinations meant a chance to change his fate, but he knew the competition was fierce, and a single mistake could lead to failure. After a long journey, he was physically and mentally exhausted, and when he finally stood at the entrance of the examination hall, he couldn't help but tremble with fear, his legs feeling weak. He took a deep breath, silently prayed, hoping to pass the examination smoothly and achieve his ambitions. In the examination hall, he remained timid and cautious, writing each word with extra care and precision. The atmosphere in the examination hall was solemn and tense; all the candidates were engrossed in writing, afraid of making a single mistake that would affect the final result. Although Li Bai was nervous, he never gave up trying; he applied all the knowledge and experience he had accumulated to the examination, carefully answering each question. Three days passed quickly, and the examination was finally over. After leaving the examination hall, Li Bai let out a long sigh of relief; although he still had doubts, he felt a little more relaxed. Eventually, Li Bai topped the examination. This story also shows that nervousness is not just about fear, but also about caution and persistent pursuit of one's goal.

Usage

作谓语、定语、状语；多用来形容人因恐惧或小心而颤抖的样子，也指小心谨慎。

zuò wèiyǔ, dìngyǔ, zhuàngyǔ; duō yòng lái xiángróng rén yīn kǒngjù huò xiǎoxīn ér chàndǒu de yàngzi, yě zhǐ xiǎoxīn jǐnshèn

As a predicate, attributive, adverbial; often used to describe a person's trembling due to fear or caution, also refers to cautiousness.

Examples

• 他战战兢兢地走近老板，准备汇报工作。

  tā zhàn zhàn jīng jīng de zǒu jìn lǎobǎn, zhǔnbèi huìbào gōngzuò

  He approached the boss timidly, preparing to report on his work.

• 考试前，我战战兢兢地复习功课，生怕考不好。

  kǎoshí qián, wǒ zhàn zhàn jīng jīng de fùxí gōngkè, shēngpà kǎo bù hǎo

  Before the exam, I nervously reviewed my lessons, afraid of failing the exam.

Related Idioms

• 如履薄冰

• 兢兢业业

• 小心翼翼

Opposite Idioms

• 胆大妄为

• 肆无忌惮