神思恍惚 shén sī huǎng hū Absent-minded

Explanation

形容精神不集中，心绪不宁的状态。

Describes a state of inattention and restlessness.

Origin Story

话说唐朝有个秀才，名叫李白，他从小就聪明好学，但性格有些散漫。有一天，他去参加科举考试。考试当天，李白早早地来到了考场，但是他却神思恍惚，无法集中精力答题。他一会儿看看窗外飞舞的蝴蝶，一会儿又听着远处传来的鸟鸣声，思绪飘忽不定。他本想写一篇气势磅礴的文章，却怎么也提笔不起来，字迹潦草，文理不通。最后，他交了一篇粗制滥造的考卷，落榜了。从此，李白痛定思痛，发誓要改掉散漫的毛病，认真对待每一件事。他开始努力练习书法，并学习各种知识，最终成为了一位著名的诗仙。

huà shuō táng cháo yǒu ge xiù cái, míng jiào lǐ bái, tā cóng xiǎo jiù cōngming hào xué, dàn xìnggé yǒuxiē sǎn màn. yǒu yī tiān, tā qù cānjiā kējǔ kǎoshì. kǎoshì dāng tiān, lǐ bái zǎo zǎo de lái dào le kǎochǎng, dànshì tā què shénsī huǎnghū, wúfǎ jízhōng jīnglì dá tí. tā yī huǐ'er kànkan chuāngwài fēiwǔ de húdié, yī huǐ'er yòu tīngzhe yuǎnchù chuán lái de niǎo míng shēng, sīxù piāo hū bùdìng. tā běn xiǎng xiě yī piān qìshì bàngbó de wénzhāng, què zěnme yě tíbǐ bù qǐ lái, zìjì liáocǎo, wénlǐ bù tōng. zuìhòu, tā jiāo le yī piān cū zhì lànzào de kǎojuàn, luò bǎng le. cóngcǐ, lǐ bái tòngdìng sī tòng, fāshì yào gǎi diào sǎnmàn de máobing, rènzhēn duìdài měi yī jiàn shì. tā kāishǐ nǔlì liànxí shūfǎ, bìng xuéxí gè zhǒng zhīshi, zuìzhōng chéngwéi le yī wèi zhùmíng de shī xiān.

It is said that there was a scholar named Li Bai in the Tang Dynasty. He was intelligent and studious since childhood, but his personality was somewhat erratic. One day, he went to take the imperial examination. On the day of the exam, Li Bai arrived at the examination hall early, but he was absent-minded and unable to concentrate on answering the questions. He would look at the butterflies fluttering outside the window, and then listen to the birds singing in the distance, his thoughts wandering aimlessly. He had intended to write a magnificent article, but he couldn't pick up his pen, his handwriting was messy, and the logic was incoherent. In the end, he submitted a poorly made examination paper and failed. From then on, Li Bai reflected on himself and vowed to change his erratic habits and take every matter seriously. He began to diligently practice calligraphy and learn various kinds of knowledge, and eventually became a famous poet.

Usage

用于描写人精神不集中，心不在焉的状态。

yòng yú miáoxiě rén jīngshén bù jízhōng, xīn bù zàiyān de zhuàngtài

Used to describe the state of being inattentive and absent-minded.

Examples

• 他最近神思恍惚，工作效率大打折扣。

  tā zuìjìn shénsī huǎnghū, gōngzuò xiàolǜ dà dǎzé kǒu

  He's been very absent-minded recently, and his work efficiency has been greatly reduced.

• 连续加班，他神思恍惚，差点儿出车祸。

  liánxù jiābān, tā shénsī huǎnghū, chà diǎnr chū chēhuò

  After working overtime continuously, he was absent-minded and almost had a car accident.

• 考试前夜，他神思恍惚，难以入睡。

  kǎoshì qiányè, tā shénsī huǎnghū, nán yǐ rùshuì

  The night before the exam, he was absent-minded and unable to sleep

Related Idioms

• 心不在焉

• 魂不守舍

Opposite Idioms

• 镇定

• 清醒