身不由主 shēn bù yóu zhǔ at the mercy of fate

Explanation

指人不能自己控制自己的行动，被迫受人或环境的支配。

Refers to the inability to control one's own actions, being forced to be dominated by people or the environment.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有个书生名叫李白，他从小就饱读诗书，才华横溢。一日，他去长安参加科举考试，途中经过一座山谷，迷了路。这时，他看到一个老婆婆坐在路边，便上前询问路。老婆婆笑了笑，说：“小郎君，你啊，身不由主，走错了路！”李白感到很奇怪，他明明是按照地图走的，怎么会走错路呢？老婆婆指着山谷深处，说：“你看，那是什么？”李白顺着老婆婆手指的方向看去，只见山谷深处有一座古庙，庙前有一棵巨大的古树，树上挂满了红绸带。老婆婆解释说：“这是山神娘娘的庙宇，你被山神娘娘的仙气迷了路。如果你想继续走下去，就必须经过山神娘娘的考验。”李白听得胆战心惊，他不知道山神娘娘会给他怎样的考验。老婆婆说：“你只要诚心诚意地拜祭山神娘娘，她就会指引你方向。”李白便按照老婆婆的指引，诚心诚意地拜祭了山神娘娘。这时，他感到一阵清风拂过，眼前的一切都变得清晰起来。他发现自己已经走出迷宫，回到了正确的道路上。李白这才明白，老婆婆所说的话是真的，自己的命运的确是身不由主，受制于天地间的自然规律。从此以后，李白更加敬畏自然，更加珍惜自己的生命。

huì shuō táng cháo shí qī, yǒu gè shūshēng míng jiào lǐ bái, tā cóng xiǎo jiù bǎo dú shī shū, cái huá héng yì. yī rì, tā qù cháng ān cān jiā kē jǔ kǎoshì, tú zhōng jīng guò yī zuò shān gǔ, mí le lù. zhè shí, tā kàn dào yī gè lǎo pópo zuò zài lù biān, biàn shàng qián xún wèn lù. lǎo pópo xiào le xiào, shuō: “xiǎo láng jūn, nǐ a, shēn bù yóu zhǔ, zǒu cuò le lù!” lǐ bái gǎndào hěn qíguài, tā míngmíng shì àn zhào dìtú zǒu de, zěn me huì zǒu cuò lù ne? lǎo pópo zhǐ zhě shān gǔ shēn chù, shuō: “nǐ kàn, nà shì shén me?” lǐ bái shùnzhe lǎo pópo shǒuzhǐ de fāngxiàng kàn qù, zhǐ jiàn shān gǔ shēn chù yǒu yī zuò gǔ miào, miào qián yǒu yī kē jù dà de gǔ shù, shù shàng guà mǎn le hóng chóu dài. lǎo pópo jiěshì shuō: “zhè shì shān shén niángniáng de miàoyǔ, nǐ bèi shān shén niángniáng de xiān qì mí le lù. rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng jìxù zǒu xiàqù, jiù bìxū jīng guò shān shén niángniáng de kǎoyàn.” lǐ bái tīng de dǎn zhàn xīnjīng, tā bù zhīdào shān shén niángniáng huì gěi tā zěn yàng de kǎoyàn. lǎo pópo shuō: “nǐ zhǐ yào chéngxīn chéngyì de bài jì shān shén niángniáng, tā jiù huì zhǐyǐn nǐ fāngxiàng.” lǐ bái biàn àn zhào lǎo pópo de zhǐyǐn, chéngxīn chéngyì de bài jì le shān shén niángniáng. zhè shí, tā gǎndào yī zhèn qīngfēng fú guò, yǎn qián de yīqiè dōu biàn de qīngxī qǐlái. tā fāxiàn zìjǐ yǐjīng zǒu chū mígōng, huí dào le zhèngquè de dàolù shàng. lǐ bái cái cǐ míngbái, lǎo pópo suǒ shuō de huà shì zhēn de, zìjǐ de mìngyùn díquè shì shēn bù yóu zhǔ, shòu zhì yú tiān dì jiān de zìrán guīlǜ. cóng cǐ yǐhòu, lǐ bái gèng jiā jìngwèi zìrán, gèng jiā zhēnxī zìjǐ de shēngmìng.

Once upon a time, during the Tang Dynasty, there lived a scholar named Li Bai, who was a gifted poet and writer. One day, he was traveling to Chang'an to take the imperial examination when he got lost in a mountain valley. He came across an old woman sitting by the road and asked her for directions. The old woman smiled and said, “Young sir, you are at the mercy of fate and have lost your way.” Li Bai was puzzled. He had followed the map meticulously, so how could he be lost? The old woman pointed towards the depths of the valley, saying, “Look, what is that?” Li Bai followed her gaze, seeing an ancient temple nestled deep within the valley, with a huge old tree before it, adorned with red silk ribbons. The old woman explained, “This is the temple of the Mountain Goddess. You were led astray by her mystical aura. If you wish to continue your journey, you must pass her trial.” Li Bai felt a shiver of fear. He didn’t know what kind of trial the Mountain Goddess would set for him. The old woman said, “You simply must worship the Mountain Goddess with a sincere heart, and she will guide you.” Li Bai, following the old woman’s instructions, sincerely worshiped the Mountain Goddess. A gentle breeze swept through, and everything before him became clear. He found himself outside the maze, back on the correct path. Li Bai realized the old woman’s words were true. His fate truly was not his own; it was subject to the laws of nature. From that day forward, Li Bai revered nature and cherished his life even more.

Usage

用于形容人无法控制自己的行动，被迫受制于环境或他人。

yòng yú xíngróng rén wúfǎ kòngzhì zìjǐ de xíngdòng, pòbèi shòu zhì yú huánjìng huò tārén.

Used to describe a person's inability to control their own actions, being forced to be controlled by the environment or others.

Examples

• 他被卷入这场风波，完全身不由主。

  tā bèi juǎn rù zhè chǎng fēngbō, wánquán shēn bù yóu zhǔ.

  He was caught up in this turmoil and completely at the mercy of events.

• 面对强大的压力，他感到身不由主，无法掌控自己的命运。

  miànduì qiángdà de yālì, tā gǎndào shēn bù yóu zhǔ, wúfǎ guǎnzhòng zìjǐ de mìngyùn.

  Faced with immense pressure, he felt powerless and unable to control his destiny.

Related Idioms

• 身不由己

• 无法自主

Opposite Idioms

• 自主

• 独立