📖 Meaning
A variant of 胡思乱想. It refers to thinking without any basis or engaging in unrealistic, groundless speculation. The phrase describes letting one's imagination wander aimlessly rather than reasoning from facts.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase comes from the Song Dynasty work 'Longchuan Biezhi' (龙川别志) by Su Zhe, brother of the famous poet Su Shi. In the story, Empress Dowager Cisheng was displeased, and imperial relatives mocked her for 'seeking a rabbit in an old nest.' Those who heard were frightened and stepped back several paces. Only the minister Han Qi remained unmoved and said, 'The Empress Dowager should not engage in wild speculation.' The idiom thus became a rebuke against unfounded, anxious overthinking.
💡 Example Usage
他总是胡思乱量，把简单的事情想得很复杂。
He is always letting his imagination run wild, overcomplicating simple matters.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 胡思乱量
- Pinyin: hú sī luàn liàng
- Literal Translation: reckless, think, chaotic, measure
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4