无动于衷

wú dòng yú zhōng

  • Meaning

    Literal

    Inner feelings unmoved

    Usage

    Not feeling anything towards something that you should have feelings for; utterly unmoved; aloof; indifferent

  • Connotation

    Negative

  • Usage Examples

    他对父亲的死无动于衷 | Tā duì fùqīn de sǐ wúdòngyúzhōng
    He was unmoved by his father's death
    [Source]

    面对这种混乱腐败的现状，我们能够无动于衷吗? | Miàn duì zhè zhǒng hùnluàn fǔbài de xiànzhuàng, wǒmen nénggòu wúdòngyúzhōng ma?
    Can we remain indifferent in face of such corruption?
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    None

    Chinese

    无动于中 (wú dòng yú zhōng)

  • Entry Notes

    This is an HSK chengyu

    Though 无动于中 is listed as a variation of this chengyu, the 现代汉语规范词典 (Xiàn Dài Hàn Yǔ Guī Fàn Cí Diǎn Dictionary) instructs its readers to avoid this spelling

  • Origin

    《聊斋志异》(Liáo Zhāi Zhì Yì) by Qīng Dynasty (清, 1644 - 1911) author 蒲松龄 (Pú Sōng Líng). The book is a collection of supernatural tales, and its English names include "Strange Tales from the Liaozhai Studio" and "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio."

  • Story

    This chengyu is from a line in the work listed in the "Origin" section above

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 百度百科[x]