📖 Meaning
To exhaust both physical energy and mental effort. It describes a situation where someone works hard both bodily and mentally to accomplish something. The phrase emphasizes the double toll of labor and worry.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from chapter 62 of the classical novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' (三国演义) by Ming dynasty author Luo Guanzhong. In the passage, a commander rebukes another for hoarding wealth while refusing to reward the soldiers who fight on his behalf, reminding him that he himself has been exerting physical and mental effort to hold off the enemy. The line '吾为汝御敌，费力劳心' highlights the grueling effort spent in defense, contrasting it with the leader's stinginess toward those risking their lives.
💡 Example Usage
他为了筹集这笔资金，四处奔走，真是费力劳心。
He ran around everywhere to raise the funds, exhausting both body and mind.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 费力劳心
- Pinyin: fèi lì láo xīn
- Literal Translation: exert, effort, exhaust, heart-mind
- Category: Perseverance
- Characters: 4