惶惶不可终日

惶惶不可終日
huánghuángbùkězhōngrì
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 so scared one can't get through the day
  2. 2 in a constant state of dread
  3. 3 on edge every waking hour

Examples

Zhànluàn shíqī, bǎixìng huánghuángbùkězhōngrì.
During the war, the people lived in constant fear.
Děngdài shěnpàn jiéguǒ, tā huánghuángbùkězhōngrì.
Waiting for the verdict, he couldn't shake his dread.

Tips

history
Used by Guo Moruo in essays describing the mood during Japan's WWII advance through Guilin and Liuzhou.
register
Strong, literary. Describes prolonged psychological dread, not brief nervousness.

Stroke Order

huáng
zhōng