📖 Meaning
Describes a state of inner panic and mental disarray, where one's heart races and thoughts become scattered. It conveys the feeling of being so flustered that one loses the ability to think clearly or make sound decisions.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom is a compound expression drawn from everyday psychological observation rather than a specific historical event. "心忙" (busy heart) and "意急" (anxious mind) each appear independently in classical literature to describe agitation, and their combination intensifies the sense of distress. The phrase reflects the traditional Chinese view that the heart governs emotions while the mind governs intention, and when both are thrown into disorder, a person becomes completely unsettled. Its earliest known appearances are found in late Ming and early Qing vernacular fiction, where it was used to depict characters in moments of crisis or confusion.
💡 Example Usage
他心忙意急地翻找着钱包，却忘了就握在手里。
He frantically searched for his wallet in a fluster, forgetting that he was already holding it in his hand.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 心忙意急
- Pinyin: xīn máng yì jí
- Literal Translation: heart, busy, mind, anxious
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4