苟且偷安 gǒu qiě tōu ān Complacency

Explanation

苟且偷安指的是只顾眼前的安逸，不顾将来。是一种消极的态度，缺乏远见卓识。

苟且偷安 means to only care about the present comfort and ignore the future. It is a passive attitude that lacks vision and insight.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，边关战事频繁，百姓苦不堪言。小镇上住着一位老秀才，他饱读诗书，却安于现状，整日沉迷于琴棋书画，对国事毫无关心。他的儿子是个热血青年，多次劝说父亲要为国家做些贡献，可是老秀才总是以“苟且偷安”为借口，不愿参与任何与战争相关的事情。战争持续多年，邻近村庄被敌军洗劫一空，百姓流离失所。老秀才却依旧闭门不出，自得其乐。一天，敌军兵临城下，老秀才才惊觉危险临头，后悔当初的苟且偷安，然而一切都为时已晚。最终，老秀才和他的家人在战火中失去了家园，也失去了生命。这个故事警示人们：安于现状，不思进取，最终只会自食恶果。

huà shuō táng cháo shíqī, biānguān zhànshì pínfán, bǎixìng kǔ bù kān yán。xiǎozhèn shàng zhù zhe yī wèi lǎo xiùcái, tā bǎodú shūshū, què ān yú xiànzhuàng, zhěng rì chénmí yú qínqí shūhuà, duì guóshì háo wú guānxīn。tā de érzi shì ge rèxuè qīngnián, duō cì quanshuō fùqīn yào wèi guójiā zuò xiē gòngxiàn, kěshì lǎo xiùcái zǒngshì yǐ “gǒu qiě tōu ān” wéi jièkǒu, bù yuàn cānyù rènhé yǔ zhànzhēng xiāngguān de shìqíng。zhànzhēng chíxù duō nián, línjìn cūnzhuāng bèi díjūn xǐjié yī kōng, bǎixìng liúlí shīsuǒ。lǎo xiùcái què yījiù bìmén bù chū, zì de qí lè。yī tiān, díjūn bīnglín chéngxià, lǎo xiùcái cái jīngjué wēixiǎn lín tóu, hòuhuǐ dāngchū de gǒu qiě tōu ān, rán'ér yīqiē dōu wèi shí yǐ wǎn。zuìzhōng, lǎo xiùcái hé tā de jiārén zài zhànhuǒ zhōng shīqù le jiāyuán, yě shīqù le shēngmìng。zhège gùshì jǐngshì rénmen: ānyú xiànzhuàng, bù sī jìnqǔ, zuìzhōng zhǐ huì zì shí èguǒ。

During the Tang Dynasty, there were frequent wars on the border, and the people suffered greatly. In a small town lived an old scholar who had read widely but was content with the status quo, spending his days immersed in painting, calligraphy, and music, without any concern for state affairs. His son was a young man of great spirit, who repeatedly urged his father to contribute to the country, but the old scholar always used the excuse of "苟且偷安" and refused to participate in anything related to war. The war lasted for many years, and neighboring villages were ravaged by enemy troops, with the people displaced. The old scholar, however, remained shut in his home, enjoying himself. One day, when enemy troops appeared at the city gates, the old scholar was jolted into realizing the danger and regretted his previous complacency, but it was too late. In the end, the old scholar and his family lost their home and lives in the war. This story warns that complacency and a lack of ambition will ultimately lead to self-destruction.

Usage

形容只顾眼前的安逸，不顾将来；也指得过且过，敷衍塞责。

xiáoróng zhǐ gù yǎnqián de ānyì, bù gù wèilái；yě zhǐ deguò qiěguò, fūyǎn sāizé。

Describes someone who only cares about present comfort and ignores the future; it also means to be content with what is available and neglect work.

Examples

• 他整天只顾享乐，苟且偷安，根本不考虑未来的发展。

  tā zhěngtiān zhǐ gù xiǎnglè, gǒu qiě tōu ān, gēnběn bù kǎolǜ wèilái de fāzhǎn。

  He spends all day indulging in pleasure and lives a life of ease, without thinking about the future development.

• 国家正处于危难之际，我们不能苟且偷安，而应该积极应对挑战。

  guójiā zhèng chǔyú wēinán zhījì, wǒmen bù néng gǒu qiě tōu ān, ér yīnggāi jījí yìngduì tiǎozhàn。

  The country is in a critical situation, and we cannot be complacent, but should actively meet the challenges.

Related Idioms

• 苟且

• 偷安

• 得过且过

Opposite Idioms

• 奋发图强

• 高瞻远瞩