每况愈下 měi kuàng yù xià Every situation deteriorates

Explanation

形容情况越来越坏,不断恶化。

Describes a situation that is getting worse and worse, constantly deteriorating.

Origin Story

战国时期,有个叫东郭子的人,去问庄子什么是“道”。庄子说:“道”在蚂蚁洞里。东郭子不解,又问。庄子说:“道”在野草、砖瓦、碎石里。东郭子纳闷道:“道怎么越来越卑微了呢?”庄子说:“是啊,‘道’就在那些卑微低贱的地方,这不正说明‘道’每况愈下吗?”东郭子仍然不懂,庄子就用比喻给他解释:就像人的身体,从头顶到脚趾,越来越往下,情况也就越来越差,这就是每况愈下。

zhàn guó shíqí, yǒu gè jiào dōng guō zi de rén, qù wèn zhuāng zi shénme shì “dào”。zhuāng zi shuō:“dào” zài yīmí dòng lǐ。dōng guō zǐ bù jiě, yòu wèn。zhuāng zi shuō:“dào” zài yě cǎo、zhuān wǎ、suì shí lǐ。dōng guō zǐ nàmèn dào:“dào zěnme yuè lái yuè bēiwēi le ne?”zhuāng zi shuō:“shì a,‘dào’ jiù zài nàxiē bēiwēi dījiàn de dìfāng, zhè bù zhèng shuōmíng ‘dào’ měi kuàng yù xià ma?”dōng guō zǐ réngrán bù dǒng, zhuāng zi jiù yòng bǐyù gěi tā jiěshì: jiù xiàng rén de shēntǐ, cóng tóudǐng dào jiǎozhǐ, yuè lái yuè xià, qíngkuàng yě jiù yuè lái yuè chà, zhè jiùshì měi kuàng yù xià。

During the Warring States period, a man named Dong Guozi asked Zhuangzi what "Dao" is. Zhuangzi replied: "Dao" is in the ant's nest. Dong Guozi didn't understand and asked again. Zhuangzi said: "Dao" is in the weeds, bricks, tiles, and stones. Dong Guozi asked in confusion: "Why is Dao becoming more and more humble?" Zhuangzi said: "Yes, 'Dao' is in those lowly places, which doesn't it mean that 'Dao' is getting worse and worse?" Dong Guozi still didn't understand, so Zhuangzi explained it to him with a metaphor: Like the human body, from head to toe, the lower it goes, the worse the condition is, this is the gradual decline.

Usage

用于形容事物不断恶化,情况越来越糟。

yòng yú xiāngxíng shìwù bùduàn èhuà, qíngkuàng yuè lái yuè zāo。

Used to describe things that are constantly worsening and getting worse and worse.

Examples

  • 这家公司自从换了领导以后,业绩每况愈下,令人担忧。

    zhè jiā gōngsī zìcóng huàn le lǐngdǎo yǐhòu, yèjī měi kuàng yù xià, lìng rén dānyōu。

    The company's performance has been declining since the change of leadership, causing concern.

  • 他的身体状况每况愈下,需要及时就医。

    tā de shēntǐ zhuàngkuàng měi kuàng yù xià, xūyào jíshí jiù yī。

    His health is deteriorating and he needs to see a doctor immediately.

  • 这个项目从一开始就问题不断,现在更是每况愈下,恐怕要失败了。

    zhège xiàngmù cóng yīkāishǐ jiù wèntí bùduàn, xiànzài gèng shì měi kuàng yù xià, kǒngpà yào shībài le。

    This project has had problems from the start, and now it's getting worse, and it's likely to fail.