镇定自若 zhèn dìng zì ruò Calm and composed

Explanation

形容人遇到紧急情况或重大变故时，能保持平静、沉着、泰然自若的心态。

Describes someone who can maintain a calm, composed, and unperturbed demeanor when facing emergencies or significant events.

Origin Story

话说唐朝名将薛仁贵，少年时曾随父到长安应试。途中，遇到一群山贼拦路抢劫，山贼个个凶神恶煞，刀枪齐上，不少应试者吓得魂飞魄散，有的哭喊着求饶，有的抱头鼠窜。可薛仁贵却镇定自若，他从容不迫地从马背上取下弓箭，搭弓射箭，箭无虚发，很快便将山贼射倒在地，保证了自己和大家的安全。后来，薛仁贵屡立战功，成为一代名将。他之所以能成就一番事业，与他临危不乱，处事镇定的性格有很大的关系。

huà shuō táng cháo míng jiàng xuē rén guì, shào nián shí céng suí fù dào cháng ān yìng shì. tú zhōng, yù dào yī qún shān zéi lán lù qiǎng jié, shān zéi gè gè xiōng shén è shà, dāo qiāng qí shàng, bù shǎo yìng shì zhě xià de hún fēi pò sàn, yǒu de kū hǎn zhe qiú ráo, yǒu de bào tóu shǔ cuàn. kě xuē rén guì què zhèndìng zì ruò, tā cóng róng bù pò de cóng mǎ bèi shàng qǔ xià gōng jiàn, dā gōng shè jiàn, jiàn wú xū fā, hěn kuài biàn jiāng shān zéi shè dǎo zài dì, bǎozhèng le zìjǐ hé dàjiā de ān quán. hòu lái, xuē rén guì lǚ lì zhàn gōng, chéng wéi yī dài míng jiàng. tā zhī suǒ yǐ néng chéngjiù yī fān shìyè, yǔ tā líng wēi bù luàn, chǔ shì zhèndìng de xìng gé yǒu hěn dà de guān xi.

It is said that Xue Rengui, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty, once went to Chang'an to take the imperial examination when he was young. On the way, they encountered a group of bandits who robbed and blocked the road. The bandits were all ferocious, with swords and guns. Many candidates were scared out of their wits, some crying and begging for mercy, others fleeing in panic. However, Xue Rengui remained calm and composed. He calmly took his bow and arrow from his horse, drew the bow, and shot arrows, every arrow hitting its target. Soon he shot down the bandits, ensuring the safety of himself and others. Later, Xue Rengui made many military achievements and became a famous general. His success was largely due to his calm and collected nature in critical situations.

Usage

用于形容人面对困难或危险时，能够保持镇静沉稳的状态。常作谓语、定语、状语。

yòng yú xíngróng rén miàn duì kùnnan huò wēixiǎn shí, nénggòu bǎochí zhènjìng chénwěn de zhuàngtài. cháng zuò wèiyǔ, dìngyǔ, zhuàngyǔ.

Used to describe someone who can remain calm and composed when facing difficulties or danger. Often used as a predicate, attributive, or adverbial.

Examples

• 面对突发事件，他镇定自若，指挥若定。

  miàn duì tūfā shìjiàn, tā zhèndìng zìruò, zhǐhuī ruòdìng

  In the face of emergencies, he remained calm and collected.

• 尽管身处险境，他仍然镇定自若，冷静应对。

  jǐnguǎn shēn chù xiǎnjìng, tā réngrán zhèndìng zìruò, língjìng yìngduì

  Despite being in danger, he remained calm and composed.

Related Idioms

• 镇定自如

• 泰然自若

Opposite Idioms

• 慌张失措

• 手忙脚乱