📖 Meaning
To knowingly put oneself in harm's way or personally test a dangerous situation despite being fully aware of the risks. It describes someone who deliberately courts danger, often out of desperation, curiosity, or overconfidence.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom is a derivative of the older expression "以身试法" (to test the law with one's own body), which first appeared in the "Book of Han" (《汉书》), where the official Wang Zun admonished his subordinates to be prudent in their duties and not to defy the law. Over time, the character "法" (law) was replaced with "险" (danger), broadening the idiom's meaning to encompass any dangerous act undertaken knowingly. The variant "以身试险" appears in Qing Dynasty literature, notably in Li Lüyuan's novel "Qiludeng" (《歧路灯》), where it describes someone pushing boundaries out of desperation for success.
💡 Example Usage
他明知山有虎，却偏要以身试险。
He knew full well there were tigers in the mountains, yet he insisted on testing the danger himself.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 以身试险
- Pinyin: yǐ shēn shì xiǎn
- Literal Translation: with body, test danger
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4