This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Home
Learn
Chinese
Vocabulary
心急如焚

A2 noun 8 min read

心急如焚

xīn jí rú fén

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 心急如焚 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 心急如焚 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '心急如焚' in your own speech, but it is good to recognize it as a way of saying 'very, very worried.' Imagine you lost your bag and you are looking for it everywhere. You are not just 'sad,' you are 'worried.' In Chinese, we say '着急' (zhāojí). '心急如焚' is like '着急' times ten. The word '心' is heart, and '焚' is fire. Think of it as 'My heart feels like it has a fire inside because I am so worried.' You might see this in simple stories where a character loses something important. Just remember: Heart + Fire = Very Worried. This level focuses on the basic emotion of fear and urgency without needing to master the complex grammar of idioms.

At the A2 level, you can start to understand that Chinese uses metaphors to describe feelings. '心急如焚' is a 'chengyu,' which is a special four-character phrase. You should know that '心' is heart and '急' is urgent. When you are in a situation where you need to do something quickly but you can't, you feel '心急如焚.' For example, if you are late for a very important test and the bus is not coming, you feel this way. You can use it in a simple sentence like: '我心急如焚' (I am extremely anxious). It is more formal than '着急' and shows that you have a better vocabulary. You should also know that '焚' means 'to burn,' which helps you remember how strong the feeling is. It is like your heart is burning because you are so impatient or worried.

For B1 learners, '心急如焚' becomes a useful tool for more descriptive writing. You should be able to distinguish between '着急' (general worry), '焦急' (anxious), and '心急如焚' (burning anxiety). At this level, you should practice using it in sentences to describe emergencies. For instance, '看到孩子生病了，妈妈心急如焚' (Seeing the child is sick, the mother is burning with anxiety). You should also learn that it can be used as an adverb with '地' (de), as in '他心急如焚地寻找钥匙' (He searched for the keys with burning impatience). Understanding the structure '心 + 急 + 如 (like) + 焚 (fire)' helps you decode other idioms that use '如' for comparison. This idiom is perfect for adding emotional weight to your stories or diary entries about stressful experiences.

At the B2 level, you should master the nuance of '心急如焚' in different registers. It is primarily a literary and formal term, but it is frequently used in news reports and high-quality prose. You should understand that it implies a lack of control over a situation; the 'burning' comes from the friction between the need for speed and the inability to act. You should also compare it with '迫不及待' (pò bù jí dài), which also means 'cannot wait' but is often positive. '心急如焚' is almost exclusively negative. Practice using it to describe societal issues or historical events, such as a leader being '心急如焚' about a failing economy. You should also be comfortable using it in the '内心心急如焚' (internally burning with anxiety) construction to emphasize the psychological aspect over the physical one.

C1 learners should appreciate the etymological and cultural depth of '心急如焚.' The character '焚' (fire over wood) suggests a consuming, destructive heat. In classical Chinese literature, this idiom is used to show the extreme devotion and concern of characters, often in the context of filial piety or loyalty to a kingdom. You should be able to use it fluently in formal speeches, academic writing, or professional environments to describe urgent crises. At this level, you should also recognize its synonyms like '心急火燎' (xīn jí huǒ liǎo) and understand the subtle differences in tone. While '心急如焚' is very formal, '心急火燎' is slightly more colloquial but still very intense. You should be able to analyze how this idiom contributes to the 'mood' of a text, signaling a turning point in a narrative where the pressure becomes unbearable.

At the C2 level, '心急如焚' is a standard part of your high-level lexicon. you should be able to use it with perfect precision, understanding its historical resonance and how it interacts with other complex grammatical structures. You might explore its use in classical poetry or early modern literature to see how the metaphor of the 'burning heart' has evolved. You should also be able to explain the concept to others, perhaps discussing how the Chinese language prioritizes visual, elemental metaphors (fire, water, mountains) to describe the human psyche. In a professional or academic setting, you would use this word to describe the gravity of a situation with sophisticated authority. You should also be aware of how to subvert the idiom for ironic or humorous effect in modern creative writing, showing a deep mastery of the language's emotional registers and cultural connotations.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

心急如焚 in 30 Seconds

An intense idiom for extreme anxiety, literally meaning 'heart burning like fire'.
Used in formal or dramatic contexts for urgent, high-stakes situations.
Functions as a predicate (state of being) or an adverb (acting with anxiety).
Essential for expressing deep concern beyond the basic word '着急' (zhāojí).

The idiom 心急如焚 (xīn jí rú fén) is a powerful four-character expression used to describe a state of extreme anxiety and burning impatience. To understand this word, one must look at its constituent parts: 心 (xīn) meaning heart or mind, 急 (jí) meaning urgent or anxious, 如 (rú) meaning like or as if, and 焚 (fén) meaning to burn or set on fire. Together, they create a vivid metaphorical image: a heart that is so anxious it feels as though it is being consumed by flames. This is not just a mild worry; it is a profound, visceral sensation of distress that occurs when someone is desperately waiting for news, facing a critical deadline, or dealing with a lost loved one.

Intensity Level: This word sits at the high end of the emotional spectrum. It is far more intense than simply saying '着急' (zhāojí - worried). It implies a physical sensation of heat and restlessness.
Subjectivity: It is almost always used to describe internal feelings. You can use it to describe yourself or observe it in others through their frantic actions.

他在手术室外等候，内心心急如焚。 (He waited outside the operating room, his heart burning with anxiety.)

In modern Chinese society, you will encounter this phrase in literature to heighten dramatic tension, in news reports covering emergency situations, or in formal storytelling. It captures the psychological weight of a situation where time seems to stand still while the urgency of the matter continues to mount. Culturally, the use of 'fire' to describe anxiety relates to the traditional Chinese medical view of 'internal heat' or 'huo' (火) that rises when one is stressed. When you use this word, you are acknowledging that the person's 'xin' (heart/mind) is literally being scorched by the pressure of the moment. It is the definitive way to say 'I cannot wait a second longer' without losing the poetic gravity of the situation.

眼看比赛就要开始了，他的球鞋还没找到，真是心急如焚。

Common Scenarios: Waiting for emergency medical news, missing a flight for an important event, or losing contact with a family member during a disaster.

Using 心急如焚 correctly involves understanding its grammatical flexibility as a 'chengyu'. Although categorized as a noun-concept in some frameworks because it represents a state, it functions primarily as a predicate or an adverbial modifier in a sentence. The most common structure is [Subject] + [内心/心里] + 心急如焚. This emphasizes that the feeling is internal. For example, '爸爸心里心急如焚' (Dad is burning with anxiety inside).

As a Predicate: You can place it directly after the subject to state their condition. Example: '由于飞机晚点，他心急如焚。' (Because the flight was delayed, he was extremely anxious.)

听到母亲生病的消息，他心急如焚，恨不得马上飞回家。

Another common way to use it is as an adverbial phrase to describe how someone is performing an action. In this case, you add '地' (de) after the idiom: 心急如焚地 + [Verb]. For instance, '他心急如焚地在走廊里走来走去' (He paced up and down the corridor with burning impatience). This usage highlights the outward manifestation of the internal 'fire'.

Combining with Adverbs: You can use intensity modifiers like '极其' (jíqí - extremely) or '万分' (wànfēn - exceptionally) before it, though the idiom is already very strong on its own.

In writing, it often appears in descriptive passages where the author wants to show rather than just tell. Instead of saying someone is 'very worried', using 心急如焚 evokes the image of heat and destruction, making the prose more evocative.

面对这一难题，工程师们心急如焚，彻夜寻找解决方案。

You will hear 心急如焚 in a variety of high-stakes environments. One of the most common places is in television dramas, especially those involving medical emergencies, crime investigations, or romantic misunderstandings. When a character is waiting for a loved one to emerge from surgery, the narrator or other characters might describe them as 心急如焚 to emphasize their devotion and distress.

News Media: Journalists use this idiom when reporting on natural disasters, such as families waiting for news of relatives after an earthquake or flood. It conveys a sense of national sympathy.

新闻报道：失踪儿童的父母心急如焚，请求社会各界提供线索。

In the workplace, it might be used in a formal report or a high-pressure email to describe the urgency of a project that has hit a major roadblock. For instance, if a server goes down and the company is losing millions per hour, the technical director might be described as 心急如焚.

Literature and Novels: Modern web novels and traditional literature alike use this to describe internal monologues. It’s a standard way to show a character's emotional depth without using long descriptions.

小说描写：他看着手表，指针每跳动一下，他就感到更加心急如焚。

You might also hear it in historical dramas (Wuxia or Xianxia), where a master is waiting for a disciple to return with a life-saving herb. The idiom bridges the gap between ancient literary tradition and modern emotional expression.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with 心急如焚 is using it for low-stakes situations. Since the word literally means 'heart burning like fire', using it to describe waiting five minutes for a latte sounds absurdly dramatic. It would be like saying 'I am suffering a thousand deaths' because you forgot your umbrella.

Over-dramatization: Avoid: '我等公共汽车等得心急如焚。' (I am burning with anxiety waiting for the bus.) Use '等得不耐烦' (impatient) or just '很着急' instead.

错误用法：今天作业有点多，我真是心急如焚。 (Mistake: Using it for a slightly heavy homework load.)

Another common error is grammatical placement. Because it is a four-character idiom, some learners try to use it with '很' (hěn) like a standard adjective (e.g., '他很心急如焚'). While technically understandable, it is redundant because the idiom itself already implies an extreme degree. It is better to say '他心急如焚' or '他感到心急如焚'.

Confusing with Similar Idioms: Learners often confuse it with '迫不及待' (pò bù jí dài). However, '迫不及待' is about wanting to do something positive (e.g., opening a gift), whereas '心急如焚' is almost always about a negative or stressful pressure.

正确对比：他迫不及待地打开了礼物。 (Positive impatience) vs 他心急如焚地寻找丢失的钱包。 (Stressful anxiety)

Lastly, ensure the 'heart' (心) is the focus. This idiom is about the internal state. Using it to describe a mechanical process or an object (e.g., '这台电脑心急如焚') is incorrect and nonsensical. It requires a sentient subject who can experience the metaphor of 'burning' anxiety.

To truly master 心急如焚, you should know how it compares to other expressions of urgency and anxiety. The most common synonym is 焦急万分 (jiāojí wànfēn). While both describe extreme anxiety, '心急如焚' is more poetic and visual (burning heart), while '焦急万分' is more descriptive of the quantity of anxiety (ten thousand parts of anxiety).

心急如焚 vs. 迫不及待: '迫不及待' means 'cannot wait for a second'. It is often used for excitement or eagerness. '心急如焚' is strictly for worry and stress. You are '迫不及待' for a vacation, but '心急如焚' when your passport is missing.

近义词：迫在眉睫 (pò zài méi jié). This means 'pressing on the eyelashes', describing a situation that is extremely urgent and imminent, often used for deadlines.

Another alternative is 如坐针毡 (rú zuò zhēn zhān), which means 'as if sitting on a bed of needles'. This describes the physical restlessness and discomfort caused by anxiety, whereas '心急如焚' focuses on the internal emotional heat. You might be '心急如焚' while waiting for a phone call, and '如坐针毡' while sitting in a meeting knowing you are in trouble.

心急如焚 vs. 操心 (cāoxīn): '操心' is more about long-term worry or taking care of details (like a parent worrying about a child's grades). '心急如焚' is a short-term, high-intensity burst of crisis-level anxiety.

反义词：从容不迫 (cóng róng bù pò). This means calm and unhurried, the direct opposite of the burning panic found in 心急如焚.

By learning these nuances, you can choose the precise word for the level of stress you wish to convey. '心急如焚' remains the gold standard for describing that specific, agonizing feeling of a heart on fire with worry.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '焚' (fén) is a pictophonetic character. The top part '林' (forest) and the bottom part '火' (fire) literally depict a forest fire, one of the most intense and unstoppable types of heat in the ancient world.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ʃɪn tʃiː ruː fɛn/

US /ʃɪn dʒi ru fɛn/

The primary stress is often placed on the last character '焚' (fén) to emphasize the 'burning' metaphor.

Rhymes With

人 (rén) 门 (mén) 盆 (pén) 深 (shēn) 神 (shén) 晨 (chén) 真 (zhēn) 尘 (chén)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'xin' as 'zin'.
Pronouncing 'ji' as 'hi'.
Confusing 'ru' (2nd tone) with 'ru' (4th tone).
Mispronouncing 'fen' as 'fang'.
Mixing up the tones: it should be 1-2-2-2 (xīn jí rú fén).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 4/5

The character '焚' is not very common in daily life, but the other three are simple.

Writing 5/5

Writing '焚' correctly requires attention to the 'wood' and 'fire' components.

Speaking 3/5

Easy to pronounce once you master the four characters.

Listening 3/5

The rhythm of the 4-character idiom makes it easy to spot in speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

心 (xīn) 急 (jí) 如 (rú) 着急 (zhāojí) 火 (huǒ)

Learn Next

迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài) 焦急 (jiāojí) 坐立不安 (zuò lì bù ān) 如坐针毡 (rú zuò zhēn zhān) 忧心忡忡 (yōu xīn chōng chōng)

Advanced

心急火燎 (xīn jí huǒ liǎo) 燃眉之急 (rán méi zhī jí) 迫在眉睫 (pò zài méi jié)

Grammar to Know

Chengyu as Adverbial Modifier

他[心急如焚地]冲进了医务室。

Stative Verb Predicate

他现在[心急如焚]。

Causal Clause with 由于

由于孩子还没回来，他[心急如焚]。

Internal State with 内心

他表面冷静，[内心]却心急如焚。

Concessive Clause with 虽然

虽然他[心急如焚]，但还是保持了礼貌。

Examples by Level

他不回家，妈妈心急如焚。

He is not coming home, Mom is very worried.

Subject + 心急如焚.

丢了钱包，我心急如焚。

Lost the wallet, I am extremely anxious.

Simple state description.

考试快开始了，他心急如焚。

The exam is about to start, he is burning with anxiety.

Describes a time-sensitive stress.

医生还没出来，家人心急如焚。

The doctor hasn't come out yet, the family is very worried.

Used in a medical context.

没带护照，他心急如焚。

Didn't bring the passport, he is very anxious.

Focus on the cause of anxiety.

天黑了，孩子还没回来，奶奶心急如焚。

It's dark, the child isn't back, Grandma is very worried.

Traditional family scenario.

手机坏了，联系不上朋友，我心急如焚。

Phone is broken, can't contact friends, I am very anxious.

Modern context for anxiety.

看到火灾，大家心急如焚。

Seeing the fire, everyone is extremely anxious.

Anxiety caused by an external event.

听到这个坏消息，他内心心急如焚。

Hearing this bad news, he felt burning anxiety inside.

Using '内心' to emphasize the internal feeling.

眼看最后一班车走了，我心急如焚。

Seeing the last bus leave, I was extremely anxious.

'眼看' (seeing that...) introduces the cause.

她心急如焚地给医生打电话。

She called the doctor with burning impatience.

Used as an adverbial with '地'.

因为找不到钥匙，他心急如焚。

Because he couldn't find the keys, he was very worried.

Causal sentence structure.

等待面试结果的时候，他心急如焚。

While waiting for the interview results, he was very anxious.

Time clause + 心急如焚.

比赛只剩五分钟了，教练心急如焚。

Only five minutes left in the game, the coach is extremely anxious.

Sports context.

文件还没打印好，会议就要开始了，她心急如焚。

The documents aren't printed, the meeting is starting, she is very anxious.

Workplace urgency.

看到小猫生病，我心急如焚。

Seeing the kitten is sick, I am burning with anxiety.

Emotional connection to pets.

项目进度落后，经理心急如焚，要求大家加班。

The project is behind schedule; the manager is burning with anxiety and asks everyone to work overtime.

Shows a consequence of the anxiety.

面对突如其来的困难，他心急如焚，不知所措。

Facing sudden difficulties, he was extremely anxious and didn't know what to do.

Paired with '不知所措' (at a loss).

他心急如焚地在房间里走来走去，等待着消息。

He paced back and forth in the room with burning impatience, waiting for news.

Descriptive adverbial usage.

虽然表面平静，但他内心早已心急如焚。

Although calm on the surface, he was already burning with anxiety inside.

Contrast between appearance and internal state.

看到庄稼因为干旱而枯萎，农民们心急如焚。

Seeing the crops wither due to drought, the farmers were extremely anxious.

Context of environmental crisis.

他的病一直不见好转，家人真是心急如焚。

His illness showed no signs of improvement; his family was truly burning with anxiety.

Long-term stress reaching a peak.

为了筹集手术费，他心急如焚地四处求人。

To raise money for the surgery, he frantically asked everyone for help.

Action driven by anxiety.

由于交通堵塞，眼看要错过航班，他心急如焚。

Due to the traffic jam, seeing he was about to miss the flight, he was burning with anxiety.

Classic 'chengyu' usage for travel stress.

救援队还没到达灾区，指挥官心急如焚，不断催促。

The rescue team hadn't reached the disaster area yet; the commander was burning with anxiety and kept urging them.

Professional/Emergency context.

看到公司股价暴跌，董事长心急如焚，立刻召开紧急会议。

Seeing the company's stock price plummet, the chairman was extremely anxious and immediately called an emergency meeting.

Financial/Corporate context.

面对妻子的误解，他心急如焚，却又解释不清楚。

Facing his wife's misunderstanding, he was burning with anxiety but couldn't explain clearly.

Interpersonal conflict context.

他在门外心急如焚地徘徊，期待着好消息的降临。

He paced outside with burning impatience, hoping for good news to arrive.

Literary description of waiting.

这场突如其来的瘟疫让整个城市的居民都心急如焚。

This sudden plague left the residents of the entire city burning with anxiety.

Collective anxiety.

眼看着竞争对手不断壮大，他心急如焚，却苦无良策。

Seeing his competitors growing stronger, he was extremely anxious but had no good plan.

Business strategy context.

孩子离家出走已经三天了，父母心急如焚，整夜合不上眼。

The child has been gone for three days; the parents are burning with anxiety and haven't slept all night.

High-intensity emotional stress.

由于技术故障，发射任务被迫推迟，科研人员心急如焚。

Due to a technical glitch, the launch mission was forced to delay; the researchers were extremely anxious.

Scientific/Technical context.

在那段动荡的岁月里，无数爱国志士为国家的命运而心急如焚。

During those turbulent years, countless patriots were burning with anxiety for the fate of the nation.

Historical/Patriotic context.

他虽然在会上谈笑风生，但实际上对目前的困境心急如焚。

Although he was talking and laughing at the meeting, he was actually burning with anxiety about the current predicament.

Sophisticated character contrast.

这种心急如焚的感觉，伴随着他度过了每一个不眠之夜。

This feeling of burning anxiety accompanied him through every sleepless night.

Abstract noun-like usage of the idiom.

看到珍贵的文物被毁，老教授心急如焚，痛心疾首。

Seeing the precious cultural relics destroyed, the old professor was burning with anxiety and felt deep remorse.

Paired with '痛心疾首' (deeply distressed).

面对日益恶化的生态环境，环保主义者们心急如焚。

Facing the worsening ecological environment, environmentalists are burning with anxiety.

Societal/Global concern.

在这场博弈中，他虽心急如焚，却仍努力保持着冷静的判断。

In this game, although he was burning with anxiety, he still tried to maintain a cool judgment.

Concessive clause usage.

他心急如焚地寻找着那个被遗忘在角落里的真相。

He searched frantically for the truth forgotten in the corner.

Metaphorical search.

听到前线失守的消息，将军心急如焚，连夜部署反攻。

Hearing news of the front line falling, the general was burning with anxiety and deployed a counterattack overnight.

Military leadership context.

这种心急如焚的焦虑感，往往源于对未来不确定性的深度恐惧。

This sense of burning anxiety often stems from a deep fear of future uncertainty.

Psychological analysis.

在鲁迅的笔下，我们常能感受到那种为民族前途而心急如焚的炽热情感。

In Lu Xun's writings, we can often feel that fiery emotion of burning anxiety for the future of the nation.

Literary analysis.

他那种心急如焚的神态，在不经意间流露出了他内心的脆弱。

His expression of burning anxiety inadvertently revealed his inner vulnerability.

Detailed character observation.

尽管他竭力掩饰，但那双紧锁的眉头依然出卖了他心急如焚的真相。

Despite his best efforts to hide it, those tightly knitted brows still betrayed the truth of his burning anxiety.

Nuanced description of concealment.

在这一刻，时间仿佛凝固，而他内心的心急如焚却如岩浆般翻涌。

At this moment, time seemed to freeze, while the burning anxiety in his heart churned like lava.

Highly poetic/metaphorical usage.

他心急如焚地等待着命运的裁决，每一秒都显得如此漫长。

He waited for the judgment of fate with burning anxiety; every second seemed so long.

Existential weight.

面对这种积重难返的局面，改革者们无不心急如焚。

Facing this situation where long-standing problems are hard to fix, reformers are all burning with anxiety.

Political/Structural context.

这种由心急如焚转化而来的动力，促使他完成了这项不可能的任务。

This motivation, transformed from burning anxiety, prompted him to complete this impossible task.

Transformative emotion.

Synonyms

焦急万分迫不及待心急火燎急不可待坐立不安忧心忡忡如坐针毡急于求成

Antonyms

从容不迫泰然自若悠然自得不慌不忙

Common Collocations

内心心急如焚

感到心急如焚

心急如焚地寻找

心急如焚地等待

显得心急如焚

真是心急如焚

万分心急如焚

令他心急如焚

整天心急如焚

心急如焚的父母

Common Phrases

心急如焚的时候

— When one is burning with anxiety.

心急如焚的时候，深呼吸很有帮助。

表现得心急如焚

— To act or appear extremely anxious.

他在机场表现得心急如焚。

由心急如焚变为...

— Changing from extreme anxiety to another state.

他由心急如焚变为彻底失望。

甚至心急如焚

— Even burning with anxiety (used for escalation).

他很担心，甚至心急如焚。

难免心急如焚

— Inevitably burning with anxiety.

遇到这种事，难免心急如焚。

不要心急如焚

— Don't be so anxious (advice).

事情还没那么糟，不要心急如焚。

不仅焦虑，而且心急如焚

— Not just anxious, but burning with anxiety.

他不仅焦虑，而且心急如焚。

一副心急如焚的样子

— An appearance of burning anxiety.

他带着一副心急如焚的样子冲进了办公室。

依然心急如焚

— Still burning with anxiety.

尽管安慰了他很久，他依然心急如焚。

那种心急如焚

— That kind of burning anxiety.

那种心急如焚的感觉真不好受。

Often Confused With

心急如焚 vs 着急 (zhāojí)

A general, everyday word for being worried. 心急如焚 is much more intense and formal.

心急如焚 vs 焦急 (jiāojí)

A more formal version of '着急', but still lacks the metaphorical 'fire' of 心急如焚.

心急如焚 vs 迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài)

Means 'cannot wait', but usually implies excitement or eagerness, not anxiety.

Idioms & Expressions

"心急火燎"

— Extremely anxious and impatient, very similar to 心急如焚.

他心急火燎地赶回了家。

Colloquial

"如火如荼"

— Literally 'like fire and weeds', describing a situation that is intense and flourishing (not anxiety).

革命运动如火如荼地展开了。

Formal

"迫在眉睫"

— Urgent, right in front of one's eyes.

解决环境问题已是迫在眉睫。

Formal

"燃眉之急"

— A matter of extreme urgency, like fire burning one's eyebrows.

这笔钱解决了我们的燃眉之急。

Formal

"急功近利"

— Eager for quick success and instant benefits.

我们不能急功近利，要看长远。

Neutral

"暴跳如雷"

— Stamping with rage, like thunder (anger, not just anxiety).

听到这个消息，他气得暴跳如雷。

Informal

"心猿意马"

— Restless and whimsical, like a monkey or a horse.

他上课时心猿意马，总在想别的事。

Literary

"心乱如麻"

— One's mind is as confused as tangled hemp.

这件事让他心乱如麻，不知道该怎么办。

Neutral

"忧心如焚"

— Worried as if the heart is burning (focus on worry/sorrow).

为了儿子的前途，他忧心如焚。

Literary

"急中生智"

— To hit upon a bright idea in a moment of desperation.

他在急中生智，想出了一个好办法。

Neutral

Easily Confused

心急如焚 vs 心急火燎

Both use fire metaphors and mean extreme anxiety.

心急火燎 is more colloquial and sounds slightly more frantic/chaotic.

他心急火燎地跑进了家门。

心急如焚 vs 燃眉之急

Both involve fire and urgency.

燃眉之急 describes the 'situation' (a pressing matter), while 心急如焚 describes the 'person's feeling'.

这是燃眉之急，必须马上处理。

心急如焚 vs 忧心忡忡

Both mean being worried.

忧心忡忡 is a heavy, slow, long-term worry. 心急如焚 is a sharp, urgent, high-pressure anxiety.

老王为了生计忧心忡忡。

心急如焚 vs 急不可待

Both mean extremely urgent.

急不可待 emphasizes that the matter cannot be delayed, often in a neutral or positive way.

他急不可待地想要分享他的发明。

心急如焚 vs 手忙脚乱

Both occur during stressful times.

手忙脚乱 describes the physical confusion and lack of coordination, not just the feeling of anxiety.

客人太多了，服务员忙得手忙脚乱。

Sentence Patterns

Subject + 心急如焚。

他心急如焚。

Subject + 心里 + 心急如焚。

我心里心急如焚。

Subject + 心急如焚地 + Verb。

他心急如焚地寻找手机。

由于 + Reason, Subject + 心急如焚。

由于堵车，他心急如焚。

眼看 + Situation, Subject + 心急如焚。

眼看天黑了，妈妈心急如焚。

Subject + 感到 + 万分 + 心急如焚。

他感到万分心急如焚。

内心 + 早已 + 心急如焚。

他内心早已心急如焚。

令/使 + Person + 心急如焚。

这件事令他心急如焚。

Word Family

Nouns

心急 (impatience/urgency)

焦虑 (anxiety)

急躁 (impatience/irritability)

Verbs

焚烧 (to burn/incinerate)

着急 (to worry/be anxious)

焦急 (to feel anxious)

Adjectives

急切 (urgent/eager)

焦急的 (anxious)

紧急的 (urgent/emergency)

心情 (mood)

心态 (mentality)

急促 (hurried/short-breathed)

焚化 (cremate)

急诊 (emergency treatment)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in written Chinese; moderate in spoken Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Using it for trivial matters (e.g., waiting for dinner). → 我等晚饭等得很着急。
心急如焚 is too intense for daily minor annoyances.
Adding '很' (hěn) before the idiom. → 他心急如焚。
Idioms usually carry their own degree; '很' is redundant and non-standard.
Confusing '焚' (fén) with '粉' (fěn). → 焚 (fén) - burn.
焚 is second tone; 粉 (powder) is third tone. They are very different.
Using it to describe a fast car or machine. → 这辆车开得很快。
The idiom must describe a person's heart/feeling, not physical speed.
Mixing it up with '迫不及待' for positive events. → 我迫不及待地想去度假。
You don't 'burn with anxiety' for a vacation; you are just eager.

Tips

Adverbial Usage

When using it as an adverb, always remember to add '地' (de) before the verb, like '心急如焚地等待'.

Intensity

Think of it as the 10/10 level of '着急'. Use it only when the heart really feels like it's burning.

Character Breakdown

Remember: Heart (心) + Urgent (急) + Like (如) + Burning Wood (焚).

Literary Tone

Using this word makes your Chinese sound more educated and expressive compared to using simple verbs.

Tone Accuracy

The second tones (jí, rú, fén) should rise smoothly to sound natural.

Context Clues

If you hear words like '医生' (doctor), '警察' (police), or '丢了' (lost), listen for '心急如焚' nearby.

Visual Metaphor

Visualize a forest fire in your chest. That's the literal meaning of the characters.

Scenario Building

Try to think of three situations in your own life where you felt '心急如焚'.

No 'Hen'

Avoid saying '我很心急如焚'. Just say '我心急如焚' or '我感到心急如焚'.

Vs. 迫不及待

Remember: 心急如焚 = Worry/Stress. 迫不及待 = Eagerness/Excitement.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'HEART' (心) that is 'URGENT' (急) 'LIKE' (如) a 'FOREST FIRE' (焚). The forest fire is the burning wood (林) over the fire (火) in the character 焚.

Visual Association

Imagine a cartoon heart wearing a firefighter's hat, but the fire is inside the heart itself, and the heart is looking frantically at a ticking clock.

Word Web

心 (Heart) 急 (Urgent) 如 (Like) 焚 (Burn) 焦虑 (Anxiety) 火 (Fire) 等候 (Waiting) 压力 (Pressure)

Challenge

Try to use '心急如焚' in a sentence today when describing a character in a movie or a book who is in a big hurry.

Word Origin

The idiom originates from classical Chinese literature, where fire was often used as a metaphor for intense internal emotions. It is a variant of earlier expressions like '忧心如焚' found in the 'Book of Songs' (Shijing), the oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry.

Original meaning: To have a heart so worried and urgent that it feels as if it is being consumed by fire.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese Idiom / Chengyu)

Cultural Context

This is a safe, non-offensive idiom, but use it with empathy when describing others' distress.

The closest English equivalent is 'burning with anxiety' or 'on pins and needles,' though the Chinese version is more intense and formal.

Used in 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' to describe leaders during military crises. Frequently found in the lyrics of modern Mandopop ballads about heartbreak and waiting. A common theme in CCTV news reports during the Spring Festival travel rush (Chunyun).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Medical Emergencies

等待手术结果
医生还没出来
情况危急
心急如焚地祈祷

Missing Items/People

寻找丢失的钥匙
联系不上家人
四处打听
心急如焚地报警

Deadlines and Delays

眼看要迟到了
交通堵塞
错过航班
心急如焚地催促

Financial/Business Crises

股价暴跌
资金周转不灵
项目失败
心急如焚地寻找投资

Academic Pressure

等待考试成绩
录取通知书
志愿填报
心急如焚地查询

Conversation Starters

"你有没有过心急如焚的时候？发生了什么事？"

"当你的朋友心急如焚时，你会怎么安慰他？"

"你觉得‘心急如焚’这个词形容得准不准？"

"在电影里，你最记得哪个角色表现得心急如焚？"

"如果你在机场发现护照不见了，你会心急如焚吗？"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你感到心急如焚的经历。当时的情绪是怎样的？你是如何解决问题的？

你认为‘心急如焚’这种情绪对解决问题有帮助吗？为什么？

写一个短故事，主人公因为一个误会而变得心急如焚。

比较‘心急如焚’和‘从容不迫’这两种心态。你更倾向于哪一种？

想象一个未来的场景，人类因为某种原因而集体心急如焚。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, no. It's too strong for minor issues like waiting for a bus. Use '着急' instead. Using it for small things sounds like you are being very dramatic or sarcastic.

It is better to say '我心急如焚' or '我感到心急如焚'. Adding '很' (hěn) is redundant because the idiom itself already means 'extremely' anxious.

'焦急' is a formal word for 'anxious'. '心急如焚' is an idiom that uses a metaphor (heart on fire) to show the anxiety is at its highest possible level.

No. '心急如焚' is specifically for anxiety and worry. For excitement, use '迫不及待' (cannot wait) or '兴致勃勃' (full of spirits).

It has '林' (two trees) on top and '火' (fire) on the bottom. It literally means 'burning wood'.

Yes, in formal reports or emails to describe a critical crisis, like a lost contract or a technical failure that needs immediate attention.

Yes, it is one of the most common 'chengyu' used to describe psychological states in Chinese literature and media.

Rarely. It almost always implies a negative pressure or a stressful situation. It's about the pain of waiting or the fear of a bad outcome.

The most common opposite is '从容不迫' (cóng róng bù pò), which means calm and unhurried.

In a way, yes. The idea of 'heart-fire' (心火) in TCM relates to the emotional agitation this idiom describes.