玩物丧志 — “Playing with things saps ambition”
玩物丧志 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to become obsessed with hobbies or minor pursuits to the extent that one loses one's will to achieve greater things or make progress; to sap one's ambition by indulging in pleasures or trifles”. Literally, “Playing with things saps ambition”.
玩物丧志 Pronunciation and Pinyin
玩物丧志 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 玩物丧志
Origin and Story of 玩物丧志
During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Yi of Wei was the fourteenth ruler of the State of Wei. Duke Yi was particularly fond of cranes, spending his days in their company, utterly infatuated with them. He lost his ambition to make progress and often neglected state affairs and the well-being of his people.
He even allowed the cranes to ride in luxurious carriages, more extravagant than those used by his high-ranking ministers. The immense financial resources spent annually on raising these cranes led to discontent among his officials and widespread complaints from the common folk.
In 659 BC, the northern Di tribe invaded the state's borders. Duke Yi ordered his army to resist. The soldiers indignantly remarked, "Since the cranes enjoy such high status and treatment, let them go fight the war!"
Helpless, Duke Yi had no choice but to lead his troops personally into battle against the Di people at Yingze. Due to the lack of morale and unity among his forces, they were defeated, and he perished in battle.
People then used Duke Yi's actions to describe the phenomenon of 'playing with things saps ambition' (玩物丧志). An ancient poem lamented: 'It is said that ancient teachings warned against obsession with fowl; who knew a single crane could lead to a nation's fall? At Yingze, phosphorescent fires glowed that day; could he possibly ride a crane back to his immortal abode?'
Idioms Related to 玩物丧志
Synonyms of 玩物丧志
Antonyms of 玩物丧志
More idioms starting with 玩
- wán玩shì世bù不gōng恭cynical and irreverent attitude towards life
- wán玩shì世bù不jī羁cynical and unrestrained attitude towards life
- wán玩rén人sàng丧dé德Toying with others loses virtue
- wán玩er儿bù不zhuàn转unable to manage or control effectively
- wán玩bīng兵dú黩wǔ武to wage war recklessly
- wán玩suì岁kài愒rì日idle away one's time
- wán玩suì岁kài愒shí时fritter away time in idleness
- wán玩suì岁kài愒yuè月indulge in idleness and waste time
- wán玩nòng弄cí词zǎo藻use flowery language insincerely
- wán玩hū忽zhí职shǒu守neglect or dereliction of duty
- wán玩gù故xí习cháng常stick to old ways and be content
- wán玩rì日kài愒shí时to idle away one's time
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Open the tool →Questions about 玩物丧志
What does 玩物丧志 mean?
玩物丧志 (wán wù sàng zhì) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to become obsessed with hobbies or minor pursuits to the extent that one loses one's will to achieve greater things or make progress; to sap one's ambition by indulging in pleasures or trifles”.
How do you pronounce 玩物丧志?
玩物丧志 is pronounced wán wù sàng zhì in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 玩物丧志 literally mean?
Literally, 玩物丧志 means “Playing with things saps ambition”. It is used to mean “to become obsessed with hobbies or minor pursuits to the extent that one loses one's will to achieve greater things or make progress; to sap one's ambition by indulging in pleasures or trifles”.
Where does 玩物丧志 come from?
玩物丧志 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 玩物丧志?
玩：玩赏；丧：丧失；志：志气。指迷恋于所玩赏的事物而消磨了积极进取的志气。