needless worry; groundless anxiety
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
groundless worry; needless anxiety; to worry about unfounded problems
Originated from the story in 《列子•天瑞》 about a man from the state of Qi who feared the sky would fall. Also expressed as 杞人之忧.
Nǐ你
zǒng总
shì是
qǐ杞
rén人
yōu忧
tiān天
，
qí其
shí实
shì事
qing情
méi没
nà那
me么
zāo糟
。
You are always worrying needlessly; actually, things aren't that bad.
Bié别
dān担
xīn心
nà那
xiē些
bù不
kě可
néng能
fā发
shēng生
de的
shì事
，
bié别
qǐ杞
rén人
yōu忧
tiān天
le了
。
Don't worry about things that can't happen; don't be so paranoid.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
qǐ杞
rén人
yōu忧
tiān天
de的
xiǎng想
fǎ法
zhǐ只
huì会
ràng让
nǐ你
gèng更
jiāo焦
lǜ虑
。
This kind of groundless worrying will only make you more anxious.
Tā他
cháng常
cháng常
qǐ杞
rén人
yōu忧
tiān天
，
dān担
xīn心
tiān天
huì会
tā塌
xià下
lái来
。
He often worries needlessly, fearing that the sky will fall down.