thương cung chi điểu, kiến khúc mộc nhi cao phi
Definition
- Idiom (Thành ngữ):
- A bird wounded by an arrow fears even a bent tree and flies high: Describes a state of extreme caution and fearfulness resulting from a past traumatic experience. A person who has been hurt becomes overly sensitive and avoids anything that even remotely resembles the source of their previous harm.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Sau vụ lừa đảo đó, anh ta như thương cung chi điểu, kiến khúc mộc nhi cao phi, không dám đầu tư vào bất cứ thứ gì nữa. (After that scam, he was like a bird wounded by an arrow fearing a bent tree, not daring to invest in anything anymore.)
- Cô ấy đã trải qua một mối tình đau khổ, giờ đây cứ thương cung chi điểu, kiến khúc mộc nhi cao phi, rất ngại mở lòng với ai. (She went through a painful relationship; now, once bitten, twice shy, she is very reluctant to open her heart to anyone.)
Advanced Usage
- This classical idiom, derived from Chinese literary tradition, is used in formal writing, speeches, or reflective narratives to describe psychological trauma and its lasting effects on behavior. It emphasizes a heightened, sometimes irrational, state of alertness.
Variants and Related Words
- Tâm lý phòng vệ (n): Defense mechanism; a psychological strategy to cope with potential threat or anxiety.
- Ám ảnh (n/v): Obsession / to be haunted by; a persistent, disturbing preoccupation with an idea or feeling.
Synonyms
- Once bitten, twice shy: An English proverb with a very similar meaning, indicating that a bad experience makes one cautious.
- Traumatized: Deeply distressed or disturbed by an experience.
- Gun-shy: Originally referring to a frightened animal, now meaning hesitant or wary due to a previous unpleasant experience.
Related Idioms
- Cháy nhà ra mặt chuột: (When a house burns down, the mice show their faces.) Meaning a disaster reveals hidden problems or true characters.
- Sợ vỏ dưa thấy vỏ dừa cũng sợ: (Being afraid of watermelon rind, one sees coconut shell and is also afraid.) A Vietnamese folk idiom with an identical meaning to the target idiom, describing excessive fear from a past scare.