自寻烦恼 (zì xún fán nǎo) — to bring trouble on oneself (by worrying or ove…

Definition

A self-deprecating idiom for unnecessarily worrying or creating problems that didn't exist — blaming oneself for the trouble.

idiom

to bring trouble on oneself (by worrying or overthinking)to borrow trouble

自寻烦恼。
Bié wèi nà xiē méi fā shēng de shì zì xún fán nǎo le.
Don't bring trouble on yourself over things that haven't happened.
，自寻烦恼。
Tā zǒng dān xīn bié rén zěn me kàn tā, zhēn shì zì xún fán nǎo.
He's always worried about what others think of him — he's really borrowing trouble.
自寻烦恼，？
Nǐ zhè yàng zuò wán quán shì zì xún fán nǎo, hé bì ne?
What you're doing is completely bringing trouble on yourself — why bother?

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

自寻seek by oneself

偏正Modifier + head

烦恼trouble

联合Side by side

自寻 brings the sense of seeking by oneself, and 烦恼 brings the troubles sought, giving the idea of bringing trouble on oneself.

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

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

寻 is formed from 又 (hand) and 寸 (hand).

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 煩; 烦 is its simplified writing.

火頁煩

In the traditional form 煩, the shape is made from 火 (fire) and 頁 (head).

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Appears in