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何妨吟啸且徐行

何妨吟嘯且徐行
héfángyínxiàoqiěxúxíng
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 why not chant and whistle as we slowly walk on?
  2. 2 (fig.) keep your composure and pace amid any storm
  3. 3 (lit.) what-harm to-chant-and-whistle and slowly-walk

Examples

面对困境，他以何妨吟啸且徐行的态度面对生活。
Miànduì kùnjìng, tā yǐ héfáng yínxiào qiě xúxíng de tàidù miànduì shēnghuó.
In hard times, he faces life with the attitude of 'why not chant and whistle and walk on slowly?'
工作压力大时，不妨学学苏轼何妨吟啸且徐行。
Gōngzuò yālì dà shí, bùfáng xuéxue Sū Shì héfáng yínxiào qiě xúxíng.
When work pressure is heavy, take a leaf from Su Shi: 'why not chant and whistle and walk slowly?'

Tips

history
From 苏轼《定风波·莫听穿林打叶声》(Su Shi, Northern Song, 1082): 莫听穿林打叶声，何妨吟啸且徐行 (Heed not the rain piercing the forest and beating the leaves — why not chant and whistle as we walk slowly on?). The defining line of Su Shi's exile philosophy, written after being caught in rain at Huangzhou.
usage
Inseparable from the preceding 莫听穿林打叶声 (entry 810 in this set). 何妨 = why not / what's the harm. 吟啸 (yínxiào) = to chant verses and whistle leisurely — a classical image of the unhurried gentleman. 且 here = 'and also.' Quote for unhurried grace under pressure.

Stroke Order

何 hé
妨 fáng
吟 yín
啸 xiào
且 qiě
徐 xú
行 xíng