脾肉之叹 — “A lament over wasted time and inaction”

脾肉之叹 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a lament over wasted time and inaction”. Expressing regret for not being able to achieve one's ambitions or make a contribution, often due to a period of idleness. Literally, “A sigh over the flesh on one's thigh”.

Frequency

脾肉之叹 Pronunciation and Pinyin

脾肉之叹 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
脾	pí	12	spleen, digestion, nutrient absorption
肉	ròu	6	flesh, meat, or pulp
之	zhī	4	possessive or connective particle
叹	tàn	5	sigh or exclaim

Example Sentence with 脾肉之叹

毕业后在家待了两年，他常有脾肉之叹，渴望能找到一份有意义的工作，施展自己的才华。

After graduating and staying home for two years, he often had a "sigh over the flesh on his thigh," yearning to find a meaningful job and display his talents.

Origin and Story of 脾肉之叹

During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Bei lost his territory in battles against Cao Cao and went to seek refuge with Liu Biao.

Liu Biao hosted a banquet to comfort him. During the feast, the two conversed happily.

Liu Bei went to the latrine and touched his thigh, realizing that the flesh on it had grown back. This signified a period of idleness, as a leader constantly on the move would typically be lean.

Upon returning to his seat, he couldn't help but sigh, "If things continue like this, when will I ever succeed in restoring the Han Dynasty?" His sigh expressed regret over the wasted time and his inability to achieve his ambitions.

Seeing his distress, Liu Biao then granted him territory and troops.