杞人忧天 Qǐ Rén Yōu Tiān Worrying about the sky falling

Explanation

杞人忧天，指不必要的或缺乏根据的忧虑和担心。这个成语出自战国时期，讲的是杞国有一个爱瞎猜疑的人，整天担心天会塌下来，最后愁得一病不起。这个故事告诉我们，不要总是去担心那些不可能发生的事情，要保持乐观的心态。

杞人忧天, refers to unnecessary or unfounded worries and anxieties. This idiom comes from the Warring States Period, and tells the story of a man from the State of Qi who was constantly worried that the sky would fall down and eventually became sick. This story teaches us that we should not always worry about things that are unlikely to happen, but maintain an optimistic attitude.

Origin Story

春秋时期，杞国有一个爱瞎猜疑的人，总是疑神疑鬼，他担心天会踏下来，整天愁眉苦脸，担惊受怕，从此一病不起。朋友来看他，给他讲天是由气体组成是掉不下来的。他就放心了，后来又担心太阳、月亮、星星会掉下来，大地会陷下去，朋友又告诉他，太阳、月亮、星星都是球体，是不会掉下来的；大地是坚实的，是不会陷下去的。他这才放下心来，可是他又开始担心，万一这些东西掉下来，砸到怎么办？朋友们无奈，只好让他自己去想办法。就这样，他整天提心吊胆，终日忧心忡忡。这个故事告诉我们，要学会理性思考，不要总是杞人忧天。

chūn qiū shí qī, qǐ guó yǒu yī ge ài xiā cāi yí de rén, zǒng shì yí shén yí guǐ, tā dān xīn tiān huì tà xià lái, zhěng tiān chóu méi kǔ liǎn, dān jīng shòu pà, cóng cǐ yī bìng bù qǐ. péng yǒu lái kàn tā, gěi tā jiǎng tiān shì yóu qì tǐ zǔ chéng shì diào bù xià lái de. tā jiù fàng xīn le, hòu lái yòu dān xīn tài yáng, yuè liàng, xīng xīng huì diào xià lái, dà dì huì xiàn xià qù, péng yǒu yòu gào sù tā, tài yáng, yuè liàng, xīng xīng dōu shì qiú tǐ, shì bù huì diào xià lái de; dà dì shì jiān shí de, shì bù huì xiàn xià qù de. tā cái zhè cái fàng xià xīn lái, kě shì tā yòu kāi shǐ dān xīn, wàn yī zhè xiē dōng xī diào xià lái, zá dào zěn me bàn? péng yǒu men wú dài, zhǐ hǎo ràng tā zì jǐ qù xiǎng bàn fǎ. jiù zhè yàng, tā zhěng tiān tí xīn diào dǎn, zhōng rì yōu xīn chóng chóng. zhè ge gù shì gào sù wǒ men, yào xué huì lì xíng sī kǎo, bù yào zǒng shì qǐ rén yōu tiān.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man in the state of Qi who was very suspicious and always doubted everything. He was worried that the sky would fall down, was worried all day long and eventually became sick. His friends came to visit him and explained to him that the sky is made up of gas and cannot fall down. He calmed down, but then he became worried that the sun, moon and stars might fall down and the earth would collapse. His friends told him that the sun, moon and stars are spheres and cannot fall down; the earth is solid and will not collapse. Now he was relieved, but then he became worried, what if these things fell down and hit him? His friends were at a loss and let him think for himself. So he lived full of fear and anxiety. This story teaches us to think rationally and not always worry about things that are unlikely to happen, like a杞人忧天.

Usage

这个成语用来形容那些不必要的或缺乏根据的忧虑和担心。

zhè ge chéng yǔ yòng lái xíng róng nà xiē bù bì yào de huò quē fá gēn jù de yōu lǜ hé dān xīn.

This idiom is used to describe those who worry unnecessarily or without good reason.

Examples

• 你总是杞人忧天，不要总是担心那些不必要的事情。

  nǐ zǒng shì qǐ rén yōu tiān, bù yào zǒng shì dān xīn nà xiē bù bì yào de shì qíng.

  You're always worrying about things that are unnecessary, like a杞人忧天.

• 他总是杞人忧天，担心明天会发生不好的事情。

  tā zǒng shì qǐ rén yōu tiān, dān xīn míng tiān huì fā shēng bù hǎo de shì qíng.

  He's always worrying about things that are unnecessary, like a杞人忧天.

Related Idioms

• 庸人自扰

• 胡思乱想

Opposite Idioms

• 泰然处之

• 无忧无虑