随遇而安
suí yù ér ān
to be content wherever one finds oneself; to take things as they come
Character by character
随suí
follow
follow
遇yù
meet
meet
而ér
and
and
安ān
at ease
at ease
Example
他换了好几个城市工作，每到一个地方都随遇而安，很快就交上了朋友。
He has worked in several cities and settles in wherever he lands, making friends in no time.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Praise for someone adaptable, like 苏轼 in exile; but it can also mean settling for too little: 年纪轻轻的，别太随遇而安了, you’re too young to just take whatever comes.
Learn this in Lesson 92 · HSK 6–7: 苏东坡的宋朝 (Su Dongpo’s Song dynasty)
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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