茫然若失 máng rán ruò shī at a loss

Explanation

茫然若失形容精神不集中,恍惚,若有所失的样子,内心空虚迷茫,找不到方向。

Mángrán ruòshī describes a state of mental distraction, daze, and the feeling of having lost something. It depicts inner emptiness, confusion, and disorientation.

Origin Story

夕阳西下,老渔夫收起空空的渔网,茫然若失地望着无垠的大海。今天,他一无所获,以往总是满满的渔获,让他喜悦和期待,而今日的空空如也,让他感到深深的失落。他仿佛失去了什么重要的东西,那种感觉,像失去了大海给予他的恩惠,像失去了与大海之间默契的联系。他茫然地坐在岸边,任凭海风吹拂他的脸庞,心中充满了迷茫和不安,不知明天何去何从。

xīyáng xīxià, lǎoyúfū shōuqǐ kōngkōng de yúwǎng, mángrán ruòshī de wàngzhe wúyín de dàhǎi

As the sun set, the old fisherman rolled up his empty net, looking at the boundless sea with a sense of loss. Today, he caught nothing, while in the past his abundant catches had brought him joy and anticipation. Today's emptiness, however, filled him with deep disappointment. It felt like he had lost something important – the favor of the sea, the tacit connection between him and the ocean. He sat lost on the shore, letting the sea breeze blow on his face, his heart filled with confusion and anxiety, not knowing what the future would bring.

Usage

常用来形容人精神恍惚,心神不定,好像失去了什么重要的东西。

cháng yòng lái xíngróng rén jīngshen huǎnghū, xīnshén bùdìng, hǎoxiàng shīqù le shénme zhòngyào de dōngxī

Often used to describe a person's mental distraction, restlessness, and the feeling of having lost something important.

Examples

  • 听到这个噩耗,他茫然若失,不知所措。

    tīng dào zhège èghào, tā mángrán ruòshī, bù zhī suǒ cuò

    Hearing the bad news, he was at a loss, not knowing what to do.

  • 经历了那场事故后,他茫然若失,仿佛失去了什么重要的东西。

    jīng lì le nà chǎng shìgù hòu, tā mángrán ruòshī, fǎngfú shīqù le shénme zhòngyào de dōngxī

    After that accident, he was lost and confused, as if he had lost something important.