他为了项目废寝忘食。
He worked tirelessly on the project.
Daily Chengyu
废寝忘食
To work so hard you forget to eat and sleep.
Literal Meaning: Abandon sleep and forget meals.
废skip
寝sleep
忘forget
食food
Today's Situation
You code all weekend preparing for launch and realize you skipped lunch twice.
Perfect Chengyu: 废寝忘食
Actual Meaning
Intense dedication — studying or working with total absorption. Can praise or warn about burnout.
Emotional toneAdmiring or concerned
Usage feelOften positive or admiring
FormalityNeutral
English Equivalent
- Work around the clock.
- Forget to eat and sleep.
- Burn the midnight oil.
English equivalents capture the general idea, but they may not fit every context exactly.
Modern Usage Example
She 废寝忘食 preparing for the HSK exam.
Chinese Example Sentences
学习不要太废寝忘食，注意健康。
Don't study so hard you forget health.
Origin Story
Classical praise for rulers and scholars so devoted to duty they neglected basic needs.
When Natives Use It
Good fit
- Exam prep
- Startups
- Research
- Parental concern about burnout
Avoid
Positive in moderation; can warn about unsustainable habits.
- Common in speech
- Common in writing
- Sounds natural today
- Possible but uncommon in casual chat
- More common in writing or commentary
- Use with care — can sound critical
Similar and Opposite Chengyu
Daily Quiz
Which best matches 废寝忘食?
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