知足常乐 zhī zú cháng lè Contentment brings happiness

Explanation

知足常乐的意思是：知道满足，就会经常感到快乐。它强调的是一种平和的心态，一种对现有的满足和感恩，而不是对物质和名利的过度追求。

The meaning of "contentment brings happiness" is: Knowing contentment, you will always be happy. It emphasizes a peaceful state of mind, a sense of satisfaction and gratitude for what one already has, rather than an excessive pursuit of material wealth and fame.

Origin Story

从前，在一个小山村里，住着两位老人。老张家境殷实，拥有田产房屋，但他总是忧心忡忡，担心财产被盗，或子孙不孝，终日不得安宁。老李家境贫寒，仅有一间茅屋，几亩薄田，但他却总是笑呵呵的，因为他懂得知足常乐。他常常说："我的日子虽然清贫，但衣食无忧，身体健康，儿孙孝顺，我已经很满足了。"有一天，村里来了个算命先生，老张连忙跑去算命，想求个安心。算命先生说："你命格富贵，但心忧太多，难享清福。"老张听了更焦虑了。老李也去算命，算命先生说："你命格清贫，但心无杂念，自得其乐。"老李笑着说："先生说的是，我确实很知足。"两位老人的生活境遇截然不同，但他们的幸福指数却大相径庭。老张拥有财富却内心不安，老李拥有的是一颗知足的心，他从中得到了真正的快乐。这个故事告诉我们，知足常乐不是没有追求，而是对生活的一种积极乐观的态度。它是一种智慧，一种人生境界。

cóng qián, zài yīgè xiǎo shān cūn lǐ, zhù zhe liǎng wèi lǎo rén. lǎo zhāng jiā jìng yīnshí, yǒng yǒu tián chǎn fáng wū, dàn tā zǒng shì yōu xīn chóng chóng, dānxīn cái chǎn bèi dào, huò zǐ sūn bù xiào, zhōng rì bù dé ān níng. lǎo lǐ jiā jìng pín hán, jǐn yǒu yī jiān máo wū, jǐ mǔ bó tián, dàn tā què zǒng shì xiào hē hē de, yīn wèi tā dǒng de zhī zú cháng lè. tā cháng cháng shuō: "wǒ de rì zi suīrán qīng pín, dàn yī shí wú yōu, shēn tǐ jiànkāng, ér sūn xiào shùn, wǒ yǐjīng hěn mǎnzú le." yǒu yī tiān, cūn lǐ lái le ge suàn mìng xiānshēng, lǎo zhāng lián máng pǎo qù suàn mìng, xiǎng qiú ge ān xīn. suàn mìng xiānshēng shuō: "nǐ mìng gé fù guì, dàn xīn yōu tài duō, nán xiǎng qīng fú." lǎo zhāng tīng le gèng jiāolǜ le. lǎo lǐ yě qù suàn mìng, suàn mìng xiānshēng shuō: "nǐ mìng gé qīng pín, dàn xīn wú zá niàn, zì dé qí lè." lǎo lǐ xiào zhe shuō: "xiānshēng shuō de shì, wǒ quèshí hěn zhī zú." liǎng wèi lǎo rén de shēnghuó jìng yù jiérán bù tóng, dàn tāmen de xìng fú zhǐ shù què dà xiāng jìng tíng. lǎo zhāng yǒng yǒu cái fù què nèi xīn bù ān, lǎo lǐ yǒng yǒu de shì yī kē zhī zú de xīn, tā cóng zhōng dé dào le zhēn zhèng de kuài lè. zhège gùshì gàosù wǒmen, zhī zú cháng lè bùshì méiyǒu zhuī qiú, ér shì duì shēnghuó de yī zhǒng jījí lèguān de tài du. tā shì yī zhǒng zhìhuì, yī zhǒng rén shēng jìng jiè.

Once upon a time, in a small mountain village, there lived two old men. Old Zhang was wealthy, owning land and houses, but he was always worried, fearing that his property might be stolen or his descendants would be unfilial, and he never had peace of mind. Old Li was poor, having only a thatched hut and a few acres of poor land, but he was always cheerful, because he understood the meaning of contentment. He often said: "My life may be poor, but I have enough to eat and drink, I'm healthy, and my children and grandchildren are filial, I'm already very satisfied." One day, a fortune teller came to the village. Old Zhang quickly went to the fortune teller, hoping to find peace of mind. The fortune teller said: "Your destiny is wealthy, but you have too many worries, you can't enjoy happiness." Old Zhang was even more anxious. Old Li also went to see the fortune teller, who said: "Your destiny is poor, but your heart is free of worries, you are at ease." Old Li smiled and said: "The fortune teller is right, I am indeed very content." The two old men's lives were completely different, but their levels of happiness were vastly different. Old Zhang possessed wealth but was uneasy in his heart, while Old Li possessed a contented heart, from which he derived true happiness. This story teaches us that contentment isn't the absence of pursuit, but rather a positive and optimistic attitude toward life. It's a wisdom, a state of being.

Usage

用于劝诫人们要知足，不要贪得无厌。常用于表达对生活现状的满足和乐观。

yòng yú quàn jiè rénmen yào zhī zú, bù yào tāndé wú yàn. cháng yòng yú biǎo dá duì shēnghuó xiànzhuàng de mǎnzú hé lèguān.

It is used to advise people to be content and not greedy. It is often used to express satisfaction and optimism about the current state of life.

Examples

• 知足常乐，才能活得自在快乐。

  zhī zú cháng lè, cáinéng huó de zì zài kuài lè

  Contentment brings happiness and freedom.

• 他知足常乐，不追求名利。

  tā zhī zú cháng lè, bù zhuī qiú míng lì

  He is content and does not pursue fame and fortune.

• 知足常乐，是一种人生智慧。

  zhī zú cháng lè, shì yī zhǒng rén shēng zhì huì

  Contentment is a kind of life wisdom

Related Idioms

• 知足

• 常乐

• 安于现状

Opposite Idioms

• 贪得无厌

• 斤斤计较