# 庸人自扰

yōng rén zì rǎo

Create needless trouble through worry

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** An ordinary person troubles themselves

**Traditional Chinese:** 庸人自擾

**Register:** Admonishing · general

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe unnecessary anxiety or invented problems.

Can dismiss real distress if used carelessly.

## Understanding the expression

The phrase turns attention from an outside problem to the way someone responds. A person may keep guessing, imagining unkind meanings, or worrying over issues that do not require action. The trouble grows through their own thoughts rather than through new facts. It can be a reminder to stop spiraling, but sounds judgmental when directed at someone else. First check whether there is a real problem behind the worry.

## Examples

消息还没确认，别庸人自扰。

### Traditional Chinese

消息還沒確認，別庸人自擾。

xiāo xī hái méi què rèn ， bié yōng rén zì rǎo 。

The news is unconfirmed; do not distress yourself needlessly.

我反复猜他的意思，真是庸人自扰。

### Traditional Chinese

我反覆猜他的意思，真是庸人自擾。

wǒ fǎn fù cāi tā de yì sī ， zhēn shì yōng rén zì rǎo 。

Repeatedly guessing his meaning is just upsetting myself.

她不再庸人自扰，直接问清楚。

### Traditional Chinese

她不再庸人自擾，直接問清楚。

tā bú zài yōng rén zì rǎo ， zhí jiē wèn qīng chǔ 。

She stopped worrying needlessly and asked directly.

担心十年后的座位安排，简直庸人自扰。

### Traditional Chinese

擔心十年後的座位安排，簡直庸人自擾。

dān xīn shí nián hòu de zuò wèi ān pái ， jiǎn zhí yōng rén zì rǎo 。

Worrying about seating ten years ahead is creating needless trouble.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%BA%B8%E4%BA%BA%E8%87%AA%E6%93%BE)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=85&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [有名无实 yǒu míng wú shí Have the title without the substance ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/you-ming-wu-shi)

- [有目共睹 yǒu mù gòng dǔ Plain for everyone to see ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/you-mu-gong-du)

- [怨天尤人 yuàn tiān yóu rén Blame fate and other people for one's troubles ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yuan-tian-you-ren)

- [跃然纸上 yuè rán zhǐ shàng Come vividly to life in writing or drawing ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yue-ran-zhi-shang)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 永垂不朽 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yong-chui-bu-xiu) [Next idiom 有备无患 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/you-bei-wu-huan)