Hello language enthusiasts! Let’s dive into the fascinating world of Chinese idioms, or chéngyǔ, and today we’ll be exploring the idiom “心有餘悸” (Xīnyǒuyújì).
Do you know that fluttery, heart-skipping feeling you get when you’re watching a suspenseful movie? You’re on the edge of your seat, the tension is building, the music is swelling, and then – BOOM! The jump scare happens.
Even after the moment has passed and you’ve laughed it off, your heart is still pounding, right? Well, that lingering fear, that residual fright that sticks around, is perfectly encapsulated in our chéngyǔ of the day, “心有餘悸”!
Definition of 心有餘悸
- Traditional: 心有餘悸
- Simplified: 心有余悸
- Pinyin: Xīnyǒuyújì
- English: Lingering fear
- Definition: This idiom literally means the heart (心) still has (有) remaining (餘) palpitations (悸), a vivid portrayal of that sense of residual fear or apprehension that stays with us after a frightening or unsettling event.
History of 心有餘悸
The origin of the idiom “心有餘悸” can be traced back to the ancient Chinese literature “Zuo Zhuan·Xi Gong Er Shi Nian”.
The story goes that Duke Xiang of Song, in fear of an imminent attack, sent a messenger to the Jin state to express his submission. However, there was a misunderstanding, and the Jin state thought that Duke Xiang was planning to attack them instead. When the misunderstanding was eventually cleared up, the fear and suspicion that had been stirred up didn’t disappear immediately and instead lingered on, hence giving rise to the phrase “心有餘悸”.
This idiom perfectly encapsulates the feeling of lingering fear or apprehension even after a crisis has been averted.
Modern Usage of 心有餘悸
Even after thousands of years, “心有餘悸” remains relevant and widely used in today’s society. In Taiwan, you might hear this idiom in everyday conversations, literature, and even in popular media like TV dramas and movies. It’s often used to describe a situation where a person still feels scared or uneasy after a frightening experience.
The experience doesn’t have to be life-threatening—it could be as simple as a close call while crossing the road, or even the lingering unease after watching a horror movie late at night. As you can see, this idiom is quite versatile and can be used in a variety of scenarios, making it a great addition to your Mandarin vocabulary!
3 Example Sentences of 心有餘悸 Idiom
Here are a few sample sentences to see how 心有餘悸 is used in everyday conversation.
1. 看完那部恐怖片後，我心有餘悸。
2. 那次車禍讓我心有餘悸，以後我會更謹慎駕駛。
3. 雖然颱風已經過去，但我仍心有餘悸。
1. Kàn wán nà bù kǒngbù piàn hòu, wǒ xīn yǒu yú jì.
2. Nà cì chēhuò ràng wǒ xīn yǒu yú jì, yǐhòu wǒ huì gèng jǐnshèn jiàshǐ.
3. Suīrán táifēng yǐjīng guòqù, dàn wǒ réng xīn yǒu yú jì.
1. 看完那部恐怖片后，我心有余悸。
2. 那次车祸让我心有余悸，以后我会更谨慎驾驶。
3. 虽然台风已经过去，但我仍心有余悸。
1. After watching that horror movie, I still feel a lingering fear.。
2. The car accident left me with a lingering fear, I will drive more carefully in the future.
3. Even though the typhoon has passed, I still have a lingering fear.
I hope you enjoyed this deep dive into the chéngyǔ “心有餘悸”.
Remember, learning these idioms not only enriches your Mandarin vocabulary but also offers a glimpse into Chinese history and culture. So, keep exploring, keep learning, and keep using those chéngyǔ!
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