呆若木鸡
dāi ruò mù jī
dumbstruck; stunned
Character by character
呆dāi
dull
dull
若ruò
like
like
木mù
wooden
wooden
鸡jī
rooster
rooster
Example
听到这个消息，他呆若木鸡，半天说不出一句话。
When he heard the news he stood there dumbstruck, unable to say a word for ages.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
From 《达生》: a trainer of fighting cocks says a bird is ready only when it looks as if made of wood, and other cocks flee from it. The original praise of perfect calm has turned into “frozen with fear or shock”.
Learn this in Lesson 231 · HSK 9+: 庄子 (Zhuangzi, the laughing philosopher)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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