不可终日 (bù kě zhōng rì) — to be in a desperate situation, unable to function normally; to be consumed with anxiety day after day

Definition

Idiom meaning unable to get through a single day without distress — chronic fear or anxiety, not a one-time scare. Usually paired with 惶惶 to intensify the sense of panic.

idiom
to be in a desperate situationunable to function normallyto be consumed with anxiety day after day

Examples

  • 不可终日，。
    Nà duàn shí jiān tā huáng huáng bù kě zhōng rì, shēng pà shì qing bài lù.
    During that period he was in a constant panic, unable to function, afraid that the truth would come out.
  • ，，不可终日。
    Gōng sī kuī sǔn yán zhòng, yuán gōng men rén rén zì wēi, huáng huáng bù kě zhōng rì.
    The company was running heavy losses, and every employee felt threatened and couldn't carry on normally.
  • 不可终日，。
    Zhàn luàn zhōng de bǎi xìng huáng huáng bù kě zhōng rì, měi tiān wèi shēng jì fā chóu.
    During the war, the common people were in constant fear, unable to get through each day, worrying about making a living.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 終; 终 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
冬
冬dōng終zhōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 終 pairs 糸 (a cord) with 冬 as a sound part; the simplified 终 is a later shorthand. An older form showed a knot at the end of a cord.

Open 终 →

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

日 originally drew the sun. A mark was added inside to tell it apart from similar square shapes.

Open 日 →

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