无病呻吟 Groaning without illness
Explanation
无病呻吟，指没有病痛而发出呻吟的声音。比喻没有值得悲伤的事情而发出叹息感慨，也比喻文艺作品没有真实感情，装腔作势。
Without illness, groaning. It describes someone who sighs and complains without any reason for sorrow. It is also used to describe literary works lacking genuine emotion, appearing artificial.
Origin Story
从前，有个秀才，为了博取功名，苦读诗书，却始终不得志。他日日对着窗外枯燥的风景，唉声叹气，一副愁眉苦脸的模样。邻居们见了，都以为他遭遇了什么不幸，纷纷前来探问。秀才便装模作样地诉说自己的不幸，说自己怀才不遇，满腹经纶却无人赏识，以致于郁郁寡欢，夜不能寐。其实，他不过是无病呻吟，只是想以此博取同情和关注。久而久之，人们看穿了他的把戏，不再理会他。秀才的无病呻吟，不仅没有换来同情，反而让他更加孤立。
Once upon a time, there was a scholar who studied hard for the imperial examination but never achieved success. He would sigh daily before the monotonous scenery outside his window, with a sad expression. His neighbors, believing him to have suffered some misfortune, came to inquire. The scholar would then feign unhappiness, complaining about his lack of recognition, about his vast knowledge being unappreciated, leaving him despondent and sleepless. In truth, he was merely indulging in self-pity, seeking sympathy and attention. Over time, people saw through his act and ignored him. The scholar's self-pity, instead of gaining sympathy, only led to greater isolation.
Usage
用作谓语、宾语；比喻没有值得忧伤的事情而叹息感慨。也比喻文艺作品没有真实感情，装腔作势。
Used as predicate and object; describes someone who grieves or complains without reason. Also for literary works without genuine emotion, appearing artificial.
Examples
-
他总是无病呻吟，唉声叹气。
tā zǒngshì wúbìng shēnyín, āishēngtànqì.
He always groans and sighs without any illness.
-
她无病呻吟，博取同情。
tā wúbìng shēnyín, bóqǔ tóngqíng.
She groans without any illness, seeking sympathy.