如释重负

如釋重負

rúshì-zhòngfù

idiom #17,865

Meanings

考试结束后，他如释重负地叹了口气。

Kǎoshì jiéshù hòu, tā rúshìzhòngfù de tàn le kǒuqì.

After the exam ended, he sighed with relief.

听到好消息，她如释重负。

Tīngdào hǎo xiāoxi, tā rúshìzhòngfù.

Hearing the good news, she felt a weight lifted off her shoulders.

memory

如 (as if) + 释 (release) + 重负 (heavy burden) — picture someone literally putting down a heavy backpack and sighing with relief.

history

From the ancient text《穀梁传》(Gǔliáng Zhuàn): '昭公出奔，民如释重负' — when Duke Zhao fled, the people felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

如 rú

释 shì

重 zhòng

负 fù