杯弓蛇影

bēigōngshéyǐng
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 mistaking the reflection of a bow in a cup for a snake
  2. 2 imagined fears from unfounded suspicions

Examples

Tā zuìjìn bēigōngshéyǐng, zǒng huáiyí yǒurén yào hài tā.
Lately he is jumping at shadows, always suspecting someone wants to harm him.
Bié bēigōngshéyǐng le, nà zhǐshì fēng chuī de shēngyīn.
Stop imagining things — that is just the sound of the wind.

Tips

history
From 风俗》(Han dynasty): a man saw what he thought was a snake in his wine cup and fell ill with fear. It turned out to be the reflection of a bow hanging on the wall. Once he realized the truth, he recovered.

Stroke Order

bēi
gōng
shé
yǐng