忐忑不安

tǎntè-bù'ān

idiom #27,608

Meanings

1 anxious and uneasy
2 on edge
3 restless with worry
4 in a state of turmoil

Characters

heart going upward (used only in 忐忑)

heart going downward (used only in 忐忑)

peaceful; calm; settled

Examples

HSK 3

等待考试结果时，她感到忐忑不安。

Děngdài kǎoshì jiéguǒ shí, tā gǎndào tǎntè-bù'ān.

While waiting for the exam results, she felt anxious and uneasy.

HSK 4

他忐忑不安地走进了面试室。

Tā tǎntè-bù'ān de zǒujìn le miànshì shì.

He walked into the interview room with a nervous heart.

Tips

memory

忐 and 忑 are two rare characters only used in this compound. Both have 心 (heart) at the bottom - one heart going up (忐), one going down (忑). Your heart going up and down = anxious!

Stroke Order

忐 tǎn

忑 tè

不 bù

安 ān