优哉游哉

優哉遊哉

yōuzāi-yóuzāi

idiom #91,707

Meanings

1 carefree and leisurely
2 at ease and unhurried
3 taking it easy

Characters

leisurely, at ease

(classical exclamatory particle)

Examples

HSK 3

大家都在忙，只有他优哉游哉。

Dàjiā dōu zài máng, zhǐyǒu tā yōuzāi-yóuzāi.

Everyone is busy - only he is taking it easy.

HSK 4

周末他在公园里优哉游哉地散步。

Zhōumò tā zài gōngyuán lǐ yōuzāi-yóuzāi de sànbù.

On weekends he strolls leisurely through the park.

HSK 5

他退休后优哉游哉，种花养鸟。

Tā tuìxiū hòu yōuzāi-yóuzāi, zhòng huā yǎng niǎo.

After retiring, he lives a leisurely life, growing flowers and raising birds.

Tips

history

From 《诗经·小雅·采菽》: 优哉游哉，亦是戾矣 - among the oldest surviving Chinese poetry. The classical particle 哉 gives the phrase an archaic, literary tone.

register

Slightly literary flavor, but common in everyday writing. Can carry a hint of envy or mild criticism when others are busy and someone else is relaxed.

Stroke Order

优 yōu

哉 zāi

游 yóu