先天下之憂而憂,後天下之樂而樂 xiān tiān xià zhī yōu ér yōu , hòu tiān xià zhī lè ér lè

put country first, worry before joy

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. The first concern is affairs of state, enjoying the pleasure comes later. Quotation from essay On Yueyang Tower yuè yáng lóu jì by Song writer Fan Zhongyan fàn zhòng yān

Characters

Character Meaning
first; in advance; early
day; sky; heaven
down; below; to go down
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of de); it
to worry; worried; anxiety
and; but (not); (indicates contrast)
to worry; worried; anxiety
behind; after; later
day; sky; heaven
down; below; to go down
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of de); it
happy; cheerful; to laugh
and; but (not); (indicates contrast)
happy; cheerful; to laugh