后顾之忧

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: hòu gù zhī yōu
• English Translation: Fears of trouble at home (worries about the future)
• Idiom Composition: 「后」（Behind or rear; also refers to the future.）＋「顾」（To look back or to attend to.）＋「之」（A grammatical particle indicating possession (similar to 'of').）＋「忧」（Worry, anxiety, or concern.）
• Meaning: Anxiety or worries about one's home front, family, or potential future problems that hinder one from focusing entirely on a current task or mission.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「后顾之忧」 contains the following nuances:

• The Dual Meaning of 'Behind': While it literally refers to the 'rear' (as in military logistics), it figuratively points to one's family, livelihood, or internal organizational stability—the foundation that supports one's actions.
• A Barrier to Focus: This idiom is used when a 'worry' (忧 - yōu) prevents someone from giving their all to a task. Therefore, it is often paired with verbs like 'resolve' (解决 - jiě jué) or 'remove' (消除 - xiāo chú).

3. Usage

「后顾之忧」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Employee Benefits and Social Support: Most frequently used when an organization or state provides support (housing, education, etc.) so that employees or soldiers can focus on their duties.
  • Example:「公司为外派员工解决了子女入学问题，消除了他们的后顾之忧。」
    （The company solved the schooling issues for the children of expatriate staff, removing their worries about the home front.）
• Product and Service Guarantees: Used in advertising to emphasize that after-sales support is comprehensive, meaning the customer won't have to worry about future maintenance.
  • Example:「我们提供终身免费维修服务，让您购买使用无后顾之忧。」
    （We offer lifetime free repairs, so you can purchase and use our product without any concerns about future trouble.）
• Personal Decisions and Risks: Used when someone has the financial or emotional security to pursue a new challenge without fear of failure or domestic issues.
  • Example:「既然父母都支持你创业，你就大胆去干吧，别有后顾之忧。」
    （Since your parents support your startup, go ahead and do it boldly without any fears of what might happen behind you.）

Additional Examples:

1. 完善的养老保险制度解除了老年人的后顾之忧。
   （The improved pension system has removed the worries about old age for the elderly.）
2. 只有解决了后顾之忧，战士们才能在前方安心作战。
   （Only when their concerns for their families are resolved can soldiers fight with peace of mind at the front.）
3. 这款车配备了全方位的安全系统，驾驶起来没有任何后顾之忧。
   （This car is equipped with a comprehensive safety system, so there are no worries about safety while driving.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin: This idiom comes from the Book of Wei (魏书), in the biography of Li Chong (李冲). It stems from a story where the Emperor asked his loyal official Li Chong to ensure there were no 后顾之忧 (hòu gù zhī yōu) while the Emperor was away from the capital.
• Evolution: Originally a military term referring to the risk of being attacked from behind or political instability at home while the army was away. Today, it has evolved to cover any 'safety net' issues, such as family matters, retirement security, or after-sales service.
• Common Collocations: It is very frequently used with verbs like 解决 (jiě jué - to solve), 解除 (jiě chú - to remove), or 消除 (xiāo chú - to eliminate).

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 后患无穷 (hòu huàn wú qióng): Endless future troubles; emphasizes a more severe and negative long-term consequence.
  • 内顾之忧 (nèi gù zhī yōu): Internal worries; specifically focuses on concerns within a family or organization.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 无忧无虑 (wú yōu wú lǜ): Carefree and without a single worry; lighthearted.link
  • 高枕无忧 (gāo zhěn wú yōu): To sleep soundly on a high pillow; to be totally at ease without any need for vigilance.
  • 一劳永逸 (yī láo yǒng yì): To achieve lasting results with a single effort.link

6. Summary

后顾之忧 (hòu gù zhī yōu) refers to 'worries from behind' that act as a burden when trying to move forward or take risks. In modern Chinese, it is frequently used in business and social contexts, such as when a company provides benefits to 'resolve back-home concerns' (解决后顾之忧 - jiě jué hòu gù zhī yōu) so employees can focus on their work without distraction.