This idiom “杞人憂天” (gei2 yan4 yau1 tin1) describes someone who worries about unnecessary or unlikely things. It refers to groundless fears and anxieties, especially about things that are beyond one’s control.

English Equivalents:

• “Chicken Little”: This refers to someone who panics and spreads alarm based on unfounded fears. The story of Chicken Little involves a character who is hit on the head by an acorn and concludes that the sky is falling.
• “Alarmist”: This describes someone who exaggerates dangers and raises unwarranted fears.
• “Borrowing Trouble”: This idiom implies worrying about problems that haven’t actually happened yet.

For simplicity and clarity, let’s use “Chicken Little” as our primary equivalent today.

Pronunciation Guide (Approximate):

• Chick-en Lit-tel

A Story to Illustrate “Chicken Little” (and 杞人憂天):

Imagine a man from the ancient State of Qi (杞) who was plagued by constant anxieties. He worried about everything, big and small. But his biggest fear was that the sky would fall down on him.

He imagined the sky as a vast, heavy thing, and he was convinced that it would eventually collapse, crushing everyone beneath it. He stopped eating and sleeping, constantly looking up at the sky with fear and dread.

His friends tried to reassure him, explaining that the sky was made of air and could not possibly fall. But he refused to listen. He was so consumed by his fear that he couldn’t think rationally.

People began to call him “The Man of Qi Who Worried About the Sky” (杞人), and his story became a cautionary tale about the dangers of unnecessary worry. He was the original Chicken Little, convinced that disaster was imminent despite all evidence to the contrary.

How this relates to 杞人憂天 (gei2 yan4 yau1 tin1):

The Man of Qi perfectly embodies the meaning of “杞人憂天.” His fear of the sky falling was irrational and unfounded, causing him unnecessary stress and anxiety. He was worrying about something that was highly unlikely and beyond his control.

Examples of Use in English:

• “Don’t be such a Chicken Little! The chances of that happening are practically zero.”
• “He’s always acting like Chicken Little, predicting doom and gloom at every turn.”
• “Try not to be a Chicken Little and just relax and see what happens.”

Key Takeaways:

• “Chicken Little” is a good English expression for 杞人憂天 (gei2 yan4 yau1 tin1).
• It describes someone who worries about unnecessary or unlikely things.
• The story of the Man of Qi (and Chicken Little) illustrates the dangers of groundless fears and anxieties.