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HSK 6
qǐ杞Qirén人personyōu忧worrytiān天sky
To worry about unfounded or imaginary fears; to be overly concerned.

Literal meaning

Qi (杞) — person (人) — worry (忧) — sky (天)

Origin

From the *Liezi*, referring to a man from the state of Qi who worried that the sky would fall.

Examples

Nǐ你zǒng总shì是qǐ杞rén人yōu忧tiān天,dān担xīn心yī一xiē些gēn根běn本bù不huì会fā发shēng生de的shì事qíng情。
You are always worrying unnecessarily about things that will never happen.
Bù不yào要qǐ杞rén人yōu忧tiān天,fàng放sōng松xīn心qíng情,xiǎng享shòu受shēng生huó活ba吧。
Don't worry unnecessarily; relax and enjoy life.

Usage & nuances

Has a negative connotation, implying unnecessary anxiety.

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