心急火燎

xīnjí-huǒliǎo
idiom #63,443

Meanings

  1. 1 heart anxious as if on fire
  2. 2 burning with anxiety
  3. 3 extremely impatient and worried

Examples

HSK 1
Háizi hái méi huíjiā, māma xīnjí-huǒliǎo.
The child still hadn't come home; mother was burning with worry.
HSK 3
Tā xīnjí-huǒliǎo de gǎndào jīchǎng, jiéguǒ fēijī yǐjīng qǐfēi.
He rushed to the airport in a panic, only to find the plane had already taken off.
HSK 7-9
Miànshì jiéguǒ chíchí méi chū, tā xīnjí-huǒliǎo.
The interview results still hadn't come; he was burning with anxiety.

Tips

memory
心急 (heart-anxious) + 火燎 (fire-burning) - a heart so anxious it feels singed. Picture flames licking at someone's chest while they wait for news.
usage
Captures both impatience and worry, usually about something time-sensitive - a missing person, late train, pending result. Often takes and modifies a verb of frantic action.

Stroke Order

xīn
huǒ
liáo