后顾之忧
- Literal
- the worry of looking back
- Figurative
- Worries about what you leave behind you, such as family or money, that keep you from committing fully to something; people usually speak of having none or of removing them.
Where does 后顾之忧 come from?
It appears in the 《魏书》, the history of the Northern Wei dynasty, in the biography of the minister Li Chong. Emperor Xiaowen had entrusted him with the affairs of the court and, on learning of his death while away on campaign, lamented that thanks to him he had been able to leave the realm without worrying about what he left behind. 后顾 means "to look back," and the image is of someone moving forward who cannot stop glancing at the rear. Today people usually talk about resolving or removing such worries: family, health, or money, whatever keeps you from committing fully to something.
Source (出处): 《魏书·李冲传》
How is 后顾之忧 used? Two examples
- 有爷爷奶奶帮忙带孩子，我们上班就没有后顾之忧了。
With the grandparents helping look after our kid, we can go to work with nothing weighing on our minds.
- 有了这笔存款兜底，他辞职创业就没什么后顾之忧了。
With those savings as a safety net, he can quit his job and start a business without much to worry about.
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