📖 Meaning
To merely disturb someone's peace of mind without serving any useful purpose. It describes news or information that only causes unnecessary anxiety and distraction. The phrase is often used when someone deliberately avoids hearing unsettling news to maintain focus.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from a story about the Song dynasty statesman Fu Bi (富弼), recorded in Su Shi's 'Stele Inscription for Duke Fu of Zheng' (《富郑公神道碑》). When Fu Bi received his imperial commission, he learned that his daughter had died, and later that a son was born, yet he pressed on without turning back. Upon receiving a family letter, he burned it unopened, saying it would 'only disturb one's mind.' This demonstrated his unwavering dedication to state affairs over personal concerns.
💡 Example Usage
前线战事紧张，他索性不看家书，免得徒乱人意。
With the battlefront so tense, he simply ignored letters from home, lest they only disturb his peace of mind.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 徒乱人意
- Pinyin: tú luàn rén yì
- Literal Translation: in vain, disturb, people's, mind
- Category: Determination
- Characters: 4