← IDIOMS · CAUTION
HSK 6
Qirénpersonyōuworrytiānsky
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

zǒngshìrényōutiāndānxīnxiēgēnběnhuìshēngdeshìqíng
You are always worrying unnecessarily about things that will never happen.
yàorényōutiānfàngsōngxīnqíngxiǎngshòushēnghuóba
Don't worry unnecessarily; relax and enjoy life.

Usage & nuances

Has a negative connotation, implying unnecessary anxiety.

Learn idioms by speaking them

Idioms are most useful when they land in a real conversation. Practice them out loud in Kango — get instant feedback on tone and timing.

Download Kango on iOS