忐忑不安

tǎntèbùān

idiom #27,608

Meanings

1 anxious and uneasy
2 on edge
3 restless with worry
4 in a state of turmoil

Characters

heart going upward (used only in 忐忑)

heart going downward (used only in 忐忑)

peaceful; calm; settled

Examples

等待考试结果时，她感到忐忑不安。

Děngdài kǎoshì jiéguǒ shí, tā gǎndào tǎntè bùān.

While waiting for the exam results, she felt anxious and uneasy.

他忐忑不安地走进了面试室。

Tā tǎntè bùān de zǒu jìnle miànshì shì.

He walked into the interview room with a nervous heart.

Tips

memory

忐 and 忑 are two rare characters only used in this compound. Both have 心 (heart) at the bottom — one heart going up (忐), one going down (忑). Your heart going up and down = anxious!

Stroke Order

忐 tǎn

忑 tè

不 bù

安 ān