优哉游哉

優哉遊哉

yōuzāiyóuzāi

idiom #91,707

Meanings

1 carefree and leisurely
2 at ease and unhurried
3 taking it easy

Characters

leisurely, at ease

(classical exclamatory particle)

(classical exclamatory particle)

Examples

他退休后优哉游哉，种花养鸟。

Tā tuìxiū hòu yōu zāi yóu zāi, zhòng huā yǎng niǎo.

After retiring, he lives a leisurely life, growing flowers and raising birds.

周末他在公园里优哉游哉地散步。

Zhōumò tā zài gōngyuán lǐ yōu zāi yóu zāi de sànbù.

On weekends he strolls leisurely through the park.

大家都在忙，只有他优哉游哉。

Dàjiā dōu zài máng, zhǐyǒu tā yōu zāi yóu zāi.

Everyone is busy — only he is taking it easy.

Tips

history

From 《诗经·小雅·采菽》: 优哉游哉，亦是戾矣 — among the oldest surviving Chinese poetry. The classical particle 哉 gives the phrase an archaic, literary tone.

register

Slightly literary flavor, but common in everyday writing. Can carry a hint of envy or mild criticism when others are busy and someone else is relaxed.

Stroke Order

优 yōu

哉 zāi

游 yóu