Hanzi
CharactersIdiomsChinese ZodiacChinese Name
Tools
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorRender Chinese text as a downloadable image
  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
View all tools →
Blogs
心急如焚
心急如焚
心急如焚
心急如焚
心急如焚
心急如焚
心急如焚
心急如焚
心急如焚
心急如焚

心急如焚 — “Extremely anxious or worried”

心急如焚 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Extremely anxious or worried”. Consumed by anxiety; in a state of extreme urgency. Literally, “Heart anxious as if on fire; heart burning with anxiety”.

Frequency

心急如焚 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 心xīn
  • 急jí
  • 如rú
  • 焚fén

心急如焚 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
心
xīn4heart, mind, core
急
jí9urgent, anxious, or rapid
如
rú6like, as, if
焚
fén12to burn

Example Sentence with 心急如焚

得知孩子高烧不退,妈妈心急如焚,立刻赶往医院。
Knowing her child had a persistent high fever, the mother was consumed by anxiety and rushed to the hospital immediately.

Origin and Story of 心急如焚

During the Spring and Autumn period, the political power of the State of Lu was controlled by the three powerful families: Jisun, Mengsun, and Shusun. Duke Ding of Lu became merely a puppet ruler. He was deeply troubled and anxious about the state of his country and its people, consumed by anxiety ("心急如焚").

Hearing that Confucius was lecturing and advocating for the proper order between ruler and minister, Duke Ding summoned him. Confucius analyzed the internal and external challenges faced by the State of Lu. He advised the Duke to form an alliance with the State of Qi externally and to reassert his authority internally, proposing a series of measures to achieve this.

Idioms Related to 心急如焚

Synonyms of 心急如焚

  • xīn心rú如huǒ火fén焚heart burning with intense anxiety
  • xīn心jí急huǒ火liǎo燎burning with impatience or worry
  • pò迫bù不jí及dài待too impatient to wait

Antonyms of 心急如焚

  • bù不huāng慌bù不máng忙calm and unhurried
  • cóng从róng容bù不pò迫calm and unhurried
  • màn慢tiáo条sī斯lǐ理slow and deliberate

More idioms starting with 心

  • xīn心shàng上xīn心xià下feeling uneasy and agitated
  • xīn心bù不liǎng两yòng用Cannot focus on two things at once
  • xīn心bù不zài在yān焉absent-minded or not paying attention
  • xīn心bù不yīng应kǒu口to say one thing but mean another
  • xīn心bù不yóu由zhǔ主lose self-control due to strong emotions
  • xīn心bù不yóu由jǐ己against one's will
  • xīn心bù不yóu由yì意act against one's true intention
  • xīn心bù不fù负rén人,,miàn面wú无cán惭sè色clear conscience, unashamed look
  • xīn心zhōng中wú无shù数to be uncertain
  • xīn心zhōng中yǒu有shù数know what's what
  • xīn心zhōng中méi没dǐ底feel uncertain or lack confidence
  • xīn心wèi为xíng形yì役Mind enslaved by worldly concerns

Questions about 心急如焚

What does 心急如焚 mean?
心急如焚 (xīn jí rú fén) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Extremely anxious or worried”.
How do you pronounce 心急如焚?
心急如焚 is pronounced xīn jí rú fén in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 心急如焚 literally mean?
Literally, 心急如焚 means “Heart anxious as if on fire; heart burning with anxiety”. It is used to mean “Extremely anxious or worried”.
Where does 心急如焚 come from?
心急如焚 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to the modern era. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 心急如焚?
心里急得象着了火一样。形容非常着急。
Copy the pinyin for 心急如焚 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

© 2026 hanzi.now

Contact Us