安之若素 (ān zhī ruò sù) — to bear hardship or wrongdoing with equanimity, to take it in stride

Definition

A literary idiom for taking misfortune or unfairness calmly, as if it were the norm. Suggests steady, almost resigned composure in the face of hardship.

idiom
to bear hardship or wrongdoing with equanimity, to take it in stride

Examples

  • ，安之若素，。
    Miàn duì bié rén de pī píng, tā ān zhī ruò sù, yì diǎn yě bù shēng qì.
    Faced with others' criticism, he took it in stride and didn't get angry at all.
  • ，安之若素，。
    Suī rán gōng sī yù dào le kùn nan, dàn yuán gōng men ān zhī ruò sù, jì xù nǔ lì gōng zuò.
    Although the company encountered difficulties, the employees bore it with equanimity and continued to work hard.
  • ，安之若素，。
    Tā jīng lì le duō cì shī bài, què ān zhī ruò sù, cóng bú fàng qì.
    She experienced many failures, yet took them in stride and never gave up.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ安ān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

Open 安 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

若 began as a picture of a person combing their hair, associated with obedience.

Open 若 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 素 came from a picture of hands braiding thread.

Open 素 →

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