No matter how urgent the situation, the old captain always handles it with composure.
Tips
history
Traced to Yuan Hong's 袁宏 《三国名臣序赞》 (Eastern Jin): 神情玄定，处之弥泰 — the spirit serene and steady, treating circumstances with growing calm. The praise targeted Three Kingdoms statesmen who stayed composed through upheaval.
usage
泰然 = calm, 处之 = treat (the matter). Often paired with stressful triggers: 失败 failure, 压力 pressure, 批评 criticism, 危机 a crisis. Synonym: 处之泰然 — same components, same meaning, identical register.
