讒忌 (chán jì)

Pronunciation: chán jì

Basic Meaning: to envy and be jealous of someone's success or good fortune

Detailed Explanation: 讒忌 refers to the act of feeling envious and jealous of someone's accomplishments, possessions, or good fortune. It carries a negative connotation and implies ill intentions towards the person being envied.

Usage Scenarios: 讒忌 is often used to describe the feeling of envy and jealousy that arises when someone is successful or fortunate. It can be used to express the negative emotions and ill-will that some people may have towards others who are doing well in life.

Story Origin: The origin of this idiom can be traced back to ancient China. It is said that during the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man named Zhaosi who was highly respected and admired by the king. However, there were some officials who were jealous of Zhaosi's success and spread false rumors about him to the king. As a result, the king became suspicious of Zhaosi and eventually executed him. This story serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of envy and jealousy.

Structure of the Idiom: 讒忌 is a compound word formed by combining the characters "讒" (chán) and "忌" (jì). "讒" means to slander or defame, while "忌" means to be jealous or wary of. Together, they form the concept of envy and jealousy.

Example Sentences:

1. 他對朋友的成功總是充滿了讒忌之心。

(He is always filled with envy and jealousy towards his friends' success.)

2. 她的讒忌心態讓她失去了許多朋友。

(Her jealous and envious mindset has caused her to lose many friends.)

Memory Techniques: To remember the meaning of 讒忌, you can associate it with the idea of envy and jealousy. The character "讒" sounds similar to the English word "chance," which can remind you of the negative feelings that arise when someone else has a better chance or opportunity than you. The character "忌" sounds like the English word "jealous," which is another word for feeling envious.

Extended Learning: To further understand the concept of 讒忌, you can explore related idioms and expressions that convey similar meanings, such as "嫉妒" (jí dù) - to be jealous, and "羨慕" (xiàn mù) - to envy. You can also read stories or articles about the harmful effects of envy and jealousy in order to gain a deeper understanding of this topic.

Example Sentences from Different Age Groups:

1. Children: 我不喜歡和那個讒忌的同學一起玩，他總是妒忌我。

(I don't like playing with that jealous classmate, he is always envious of me.)

2. Teenagers: 我不理解為什么有人會對別人的成功心生讒忌。

(I don't understand why some people feel jealous of others' success.)

3. Adults: 讒忌是一種消極的情緒，我們應該學會欣賞和祝福他人的成就。

(Jealousy is a negative emotion, and we should learn to appreciate and congratulate others on their achievements.)