Search

00．身 body

S.K
Aug 22, 2015
1 min read

身 body 在 present 曹营 Cao's place 心 heart 在 present 汉 Han

This idiom was derived from a story in the novel The Three Kingdoms.

It is said that during the Eastern Han period, Liu Bei was defeted by Cao Cao.

Cao Cao wanted to use Guan Yu's wisdom to benefit his army, so he did not kill him. Rather, Cao Cao appointed Guan Yu as his military officer. Although Guan Yu appreciated Cao Cao's benevolence and recognition, he was still loyal to Liu Bei.

Later, when he teamed of Liu Bei's whereabouts, he escaped Cao Cao’s lands and returned to Liu Bei. People knew Guan Yu’s body was with Cao Cao but his heart was with Liu Bei – 身在曹营心在汉.

Later people used this idiom to describe situations in which a person is not wholeheartedly devoted to his current job, and is longing for something else.

【拼音】shēnzàicáoyíngxīnzàihàn

【解释】人在心不在。

【出处】《三国演义》第二十五回至二十七会记载，关羽和刘备走散后，被曹操留在营中，“封侯赐爵，三日一小宴，五日一大宴，上马一提金，下马一提银”，恩礼非常；但关羽却系念刘备，后来得知刘备在袁绍处，遂挂印封金，“过五关斩六将”，终于回到刘备身边。