心急如焚

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: xīn jí rú fén
• English Translation: Anxious and restless, unable to bear the worry, extremely worried
• Idiom Composition: 「心」（heart, mind）＋「急」（anxious, urgent）＋「如」（like, as if）＋「焚」（to burn）
• Meaning: Describes a state of being anxious as if the heart is burning. It expresses extreme worry or impatience, making one unable to remain calm or still.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「心急如焚」 contains the following nuances:

• Extreme anxiety: Expresses a state of intense anxiety and restlessness.
• Strong worry and concern: Indicates having strong worry or concern that something bad might happen.
• Sense of urgency: Includes a feeling of urgency due to approaching deadlines or pressing situations.
• Earnest desire: Sometimes expresses impatience caused by strongly wishing for something that has yet to be realized.

3. Usage

「心急如焚」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• When worried about something: Used in situations involving worry, such as not knowing the safety of a loved one, waiting for exam results, or awaiting medical diagnoses.
  • Example:「孩子失踪后，父母心急如焚，四处寻找。」
    （After the child went missing, the parents were extremely worried and searched everywhere.）
• Under time constraints: Used in situations with time pressure, such as approaching deadlines or risk of being late.
  • Example:「临近交稿日期，作者心急如焚，夜以继日地赶稿。」
    （As the submission deadline approached, the author was anxious and restless, working day and night to finish the manuscript.）
• Critical moments: Used in situations where the outcome is important, such as during key project phases or waiting for match results.
  • Example:「面对即将到期的项目，团队成员个个心急如焚，加班加点赶进度。」
    （Facing an imminent project deadline, all team members were extremely anxious, working overtime to speed up progress.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他心急如焚地等待着考试结果，生怕自己没有通过。
   （He waited for the exam results with great anxiety, fearing he might fail.）
2. 得知好友生病住院，他心急如焚地赶往医院探望。
   （Upon learning that his friend was hospitalized, he was extremely worried and rushed to visit.）
3. 比赛进入最后阶段，双方比分胶着，观众们都心急如焚。
   （As the match entered its final stage with a tight score, the audience was anxiously restless.）
4. 面对自然灾害，救援人员心急如焚，争分夺秒地抢救生命。
   （Facing a natural disaster, the rescue workers were urgently anxious, racing against time to save lives.）
5. 儿子第一次出远门，母亲心急如焚，每天都打电话询问情况。
   （Since it was her son's first trip far from home, the mother was extremely worried and called every day to check on him.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The image of 'fire': In Chinese, 'fire' often symbolizes passion, anxiety, or danger. '心急如焚' expresses an intense anxiety as if the heart is being burned by fire.
• Serious situations: This idiom is typically used to describe relatively serious situations or strong emotions. It is not commonly used for mild worries or simply being in a hurry.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 急不可待 (jí bù kě dài): Extremely urgent and unable to wait.
  • 迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài): Extremely eager and unable to wait.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 从容不迫 (cóng róng bú pò): Calm and unhurried.
  • 慢条斯理 (màn tiáo sī lǐ): Slow and unhurried.

6. Summary

'心急如焚' is an idiom that expresses intense anxiety and impatience as if the heart is burning, describing a state of extreme worry and urgency. When using this phrase, it is important to consider whether the situation is truly serious enough to warrant such a strong expression. Understanding the symbolic use of 'fire' in Chinese culture helps to appreciate the deep nuance conveyed by this idiom.