非分之想 (fēi fèn zhī xiǎng) — inordinate ambitions; thoughts that go beyond one's proper limits

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'unwarranted hopes' or 'ambitions beyond one's proper station' — the kind of thinking the speaker warns against. Always negative, implying the wish is improper or unrealistic.

noun
inordinate ambitionsthoughts that go beyond one's proper limits

Examples

  • 非分之想，。
    Tā zǒng yǒu yì xiē fēi fèn zhī xiǎng, jué de zì jǐ yīng gāi dé dào gèng duō.
    He always has some inordinate ambitions, feeling he deserves more.
  • ，非分之想。
    Zuò rén yào běn fèn, bú yào yǒu fēi fèn zhī xiǎng.
    One should be content with one's lot and not have unwarranted ambitions.
  • 非分之想。
    Nà xiē fēi fèn zhī xiǎng zuì zhōng ràng tā fàn le cuò wù.
    Those inordinate ambitions eventually caused him to make mistakes.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 非 is drawn from two wings facing opposite directions. It later came to be used for going against or not being.

Open 非 →

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

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

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 →

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
心心xīnheart, mind
Sound part声符shēngfú
相
相xiāng想xiǎng
Same sound today

想 has 心 (heart, mind) below 相 (to look at); the shape shows the mind looking at or considering something, and 相 also gives the sound.

Open 想 →

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