優哉游哉

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Chinese

excellent; superior (exclamatory or interrog. part.)
to walk; to tour; to roam
to walk; to tour; to roam; to swim; to travel
 
(exclamatory or interrog. part.)
trad. (優哉游哉)
simp. (优哉游哉)

Etymology

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 222 (《詩經·小雅·采菽》):

君子福祿
優哉游哉
[Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
君子福禄
优哉游哉
[Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Lè zhǐ jūnzǐ, fúlù pí zhī.
Yōuzāiyóuzāi, yì shì lì yǐ.
To be rejoiced in are the princes, And their happiness and dignities are enlarged.
How joyous, how happy, Is their coming here!

Pronunciation


Idiom

優哉游哉

  1. leisurely and carefree