惴惴

惴惴

1. (literary, ideophonic) apprehensive and cautious; anxious and frightened

   • 臨其穴，惴惴其慄。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     临其穴，惴惴其栗。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Lín qí xué, zhuìzhuì qí lì. [Pinyin]

     When he came to the grave,
     He looked terrified and trembled.

   • 惴惴小心，如臨于谷。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     惴惴小心，如临于谷。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Zhuìzhuì xiǎoxīn, rú lín yú gǔ. [Pinyin]

     We must be anxious and careful,
     As if we were on the brink of a valley.

   • 縵者，窖者，密者。小恐惴惴，大恐縵縵。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     缦者，窖者，密者。小恐惴惴，大恐缦缦。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Màn zhě, jiào zhě, mì zhě. Xiǎokǒng zhuìzhuì, dàkǒng mànmàn. [Pinyin]

     There are hesitancies; deep difficulties; reservations; small apprehensions causing restless distress, and great apprehensions producing endless fears.