心急如焚

xīnjí-rúfén

idiom HSK 7-9 #36,448

Meanings

孩子还没回来，妈妈心急如焚。

Háizi hái méi huílái, māma xīnjírúfén.

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

听到这个消息，他心急如焚。

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