无动于衷 wú dòng yú zhōng unmoved

Explanation

指对应该关心、注意的事情毫不关心，置之不理。

Refers to indifference to matters that deserve attention and concern.

Origin Story

战国时期，秦国攻打赵国，赵国首都邯郸城危在旦夕。百姓们纷纷逃难，哭喊声震天动地。然而，在邯郸城郊外的一座庄园里，一位富商却悠闲地品着香茗，看着书，对城内的战乱和百姓的苦难毫无反应，无动于衷。他认为这些事情与他无关，只要他的庄园和财产安全，其他的事情他都不在乎。几天后，秦军攻破邯郸，庄园也被战火波及，富商这才意识到自己之前的无动于衷是多么愚蠢，但为时已晚。

zhàn guó shí qī, qín guó gōng dǎ zhào guó, zhào guó shǒu dū hán dān chéng wēi zài dàn xī. bǎi xìng men fēn fēn táo nàn, kū hǎn shēng zhèn tiān dòng dì. rán ér, zài hán dān chéng jiāo wài de yī zuò zhuāng yuán lǐ, yī wèi fù shāng què yōu xián de pǐn zhe xiāng míng, kàn zhe shū, duì chéng nèi de zhàn luàn hé bǎi xìng de kǔ nàn háo wú fǎn yìng, wú dòng yú zhōng. tā rèn wéi zhè xiē shì qing yǔ tā wú guān, zhǐ yào tā de zhuāng yuán hé cái chǎn ān quán, qí tā de shì qing tā dōu bù zài hu.

During the Warring States period, the State of Qin attacked the State of Zhao, and the capital city of Handan was in imminent danger. People fled in panic, and cries echoed through the air. However, in a country estate outside Handan, a wealthy merchant calmly enjoyed his tea and read a book, completely unmoved by the war in the city and the suffering of the people. He believed that these things did not concern him, and as long as his estate and wealth were safe, he did not care about anything else. A few days later, the Qin army broke through Handan, and the estate was also affected by the war. Then the wealthy merchant realized how foolish his indifference had been, but it was too late.

Usage

用于形容对人或事漠不关心，置之不理。

yòng yú xíng róng duì rén huò shì mò bù guān xīn, zhì zhī bù lǐ

Used to describe indifference to people or events.

Examples

• 面对灾难，他却无动于衷。

  miàn duì zāi nàn, tā què wú dòng yú zhōng

  He remained unmoved in the face of disaster.

• 听到这个坏消息，他竟然无动于衷。

  tīng dào zhège huài xiāo xi, tā jìng rán wú dòng yú zhōng

  He was surprisingly unmoved when he heard the bad news.

Related Idioms

• 漠然

• 冷漠

• 麻木

Opposite Idioms

• 感同身受

• 热心肠