Chinese word

听天由命

Pronunciation

Pinyintīng tiān yóu mìng

Meaning

idiomleave it to fate

Example

听天由命吧，别太担心了。tīng tiān yóu mìng ba bié tài dān xīn le

Let's leave it to fate and not worry too much.

Illustration for 听天由命 (leave it to fate)

More examples

钱都交了，结果不好也只好听天由命了。qián dōu jiāo le jié guǒ bù hǎo yě zhí hǎo tīng tiān yóu mìng le

The money has all been paid, so even if the result is bad, we can only leave it to fate.

Core concept

A person stops trying to steer events and lets an outcome be decided by forces beyond human control.

Common phrases

听天由命了tīng tiān yóu mìng le
leave it to fate
也只能听天由命了yě zhǐ néng tīng tiān yóu mìng le
can only leave it to fate

Similar words

顺其自然shùn qí zì rán: Letting matters take their natural course after making a reasonable effort, without forcing them.
随遇而安suí yù ér ān: Remaining peaceful and content by adjusting to the circumstances in any place or situation.

Definition in Chinese

在无法改变结果或选择不再努力时，把事情的成败交给天意或命运决定，表示听任其自然的态度。zài wú fǎ gǎi biàn jié guǒ huò xuǎn zé bú zài nǔ lì shí bǎ shì qíng de chéng bài jiāo gěi tiān yì huò mìng yùn jué dìng biǎo shì tīng rèn qí zì rán de tài dù

Word origin

听 (tīng, "follow") + 天 (tiān, "heaven") + 由 (yóu, "be governed by") + 命 (mìng, "fate") presents a person as following heaven's decree and leaving the result to fate.

Usage tips

In everyday conversation, this idiom often signals resignation, so it fits a situation with no useful action left better than ordinary patience.

Other meanings

let things take their courseidiom

Opposites

奋发有为fèn fā yǒu wéistrive to achieveidiom