📖 Meaning
Literally 'the heart is like dead ashes.' Originally a Daoist concept describing a state of complete inner tranquility, where one is unmoved by external influences. In modern usage, it most often describes someone who is utterly disheartened, despairing, or has lost all hope and motivation.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the 'Jingshen Xun' chapter of the Huainanzi, a Daoist-leaning compendium compiled during the Western Han dynasty under Prince Liu An of Huainan. The text describes a perfected sage whose body resembles withered wood and whose heart is like dead ashes, having turned all attention inward to achieve spiritual unity and detachment from worldly concerns. This reflects the classical Daoist ideal of extinguishing desires and passions to attain profound serenity, echoing passages found in the Zhuangzi as well.
💡 Example Usage
经历了一连串的打击后，他心若死灰，再也提不起任何热情。
After suffering one blow after another, his heart was like dead ashes, and he could no longer muster any enthusiasm.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 心若死灰
- Pinyin: xīn ruò sǐ huī
- Literal Translation: heart, like, dead, ashes
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4