📖 Meaning
Having no heart for tea or food. It describes a state of deep distress or anxiety where one loses the appetite and desire to eat or drink. The idiom conveys being so troubled that basic daily needs are neglected.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Qing dynasty novel 'Dream of the Red Chamber' (红楼梦) by Cao Xueqin, Chapter 14. In the story, Wang Xifeng (凤姐) is described as being so overwhelmed with managing affairs that she has no heart for tea or meals and cannot sit or lie peacefully. The phrase vividly captures her state of exhaustion and anxiety amidst her heavy responsibilities.
💡 Example Usage
自从生意失败后，他整日茶饭无心，人也瘦了一大圈。
Since his business failed, he has had no appetite for tea or food all day long, and has lost a lot of weight.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 茶饭无心
- Pinyin: chá fàn wú xīn
- Literal Translation: tea, rice, without, heart
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4