泰然处之 (tài rán chǔ zhī) — to handle calmly; to take something in stride; to remain unruffled

Definition

A formal idiom meaning to stay calm and composed in the face of trouble or criticism — 'take it in stride'. Used in writing, not casual speech.

idiom
to handle calmlyto take something in strideto remain unruffled

Examples

  • ，泰然处之。
    Miàn duì liú yán fēi yǔ, tā tài rán chǔ zhī.
    In the face of rumors, he took them calmly.
  • ，泰然处之。
    Bù guǎn yù dào shén me kùn nan, tā dōu néng tài rán chǔ zhī.
    No matter what difficulty she encounters, she can handle it calmly.
  • ，泰然处之，。
    Duì zhè cì shī bài, wǒ men yīng gāi tài rán chǔ zhī, zǒng jié jiào xùn.
    We should take this failure calmly and learn from it.

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
廾廾gǒngtwo hands
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
大
大dà泰tài
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

泰 combines 大 for sound with 廾 (two hands) and 水 (water), showing hands handling water or something slippery.

Open 泰 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

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 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →

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 →

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