心急如焚

xīnjírúfén

idiom HSK 7 #36,448

Meanings

Háizi hái méi huílái, māma xīnjírúfén.

The child still hadn't come home, and the mother was burning with anxiety.

Tīngdào zhège xiāoxī, tā xīnjírúfén.

Upon hearing the news, he was worried sick.

memory

心 (heart) + 急 (anxious) + 如 (like) + 焚 (burning) = heart anxious as if burning → extremely worried. Picture your heart literally on fire with worry.

心急如焚 is literary and dramatic. In casual speech, 急死了 or 着急 are more common. Use 心急如焚 in writing or when emphasizing extreme anxiety.

心 xīn

急 jí

如 rú

焚 fén