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逍遥自在 (xiāo yáo zì zai) — carefree and at ease; leisurely and free

Definition

An idiom for a completely carefree, unburdened lifestyle. A richer, more literary alternative to plain 自由, often used to describe retirement, travel, or an envied way of living.

idiom
carefree and at easeleisurely and free

Examples

  • ，逍遥自在。
    Tuì xiū hòu, tā zhōng yú kě yǐ xiāo yáo zì zai dì shēng huó le.
    After retirement, he could finally live a carefree life.
  • 逍遥自在。
    Tā xǐ huan xiāo yáo zì zai dì zài hǎi biān sàn bù.
    She likes to take leisurely walks by the seaside.
  • 逍遥自在。
    Zhè zhǒng xiāo yáo zì zai de rì zi zhēn shì ràng rén xiàn mù.
    This kind of carefree life is really enviable.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

逍遥carefree
逍xiāo遥yáo
自在at ease
自zìself在zàibe
主谓Subject + predicate

逍遥 and 自在 both convey a carefree, at-ease state, so together they emphasize ease and freedom.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 遥 →

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.

Open 自 →

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

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →
Appears in
Emotions & FeelingsIdioms & Set Phrases

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