杯弓蛇影

bēigōng-shéyǐng
idiom

Meanings

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

Examples

HSK 3
Bié bēigōng-shéyǐng le, nà zhǐshì fēng chuī de shēngyīn.
Stop imagining things - that is just the sound of the wind.
HSK 5
Tā zuìjìn bēigōng-shéyǐng, zǒng huáiyí yǒurén yào hài tā.
Lately he is jumping at shadows, always suspecting someone wants to harm him.

Tips

history
From 应劭《风俗通义》 (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