从容不迫
- Literal
- unhurried and not pressed
- Figurative
- To act calmly and with composure, unhurried and unruffled even when the moment is tense.
Where does 从容不迫 come from?
We know of no specific anecdote behind it: this is a four-character formula made of two halves that say the same thing from opposite sides. 从容 means "calm, unhurried" and turns up in early texts; 不迫 means "not pressed." Together they describe someone who keeps both pace and poise under pressure. The phrase sounds slightly literary, but it is perfectly ordinary in speech about people who hold up well in a tight spot.
How is 从容不迫 used? Two examples
- 面对记者的问题，她回答得从容不迫。
Facing the reporters' questions, she answered with complete composure.
- 时间快到了，他还是从容不迫地检查了一遍。
Time was almost up, and he still went over everything once more without hurrying.
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