先天下之忧而忧
What does 先天下之忧而忧 mean?
A person of duty worries before the world worries and rejoices only after the world rejoices; put others first, yourself last
真正有责任感的人会先为天下人的困难担忧，把别人的需要放在自己的安乐前面。
Historical origin
Fan Zhongyan received a letter and a painting of the newly rebuilt Yueyang Tower from his friend Teng Zijing, who asked him to write an essay about it. Although Fan Zhongyan had never seen the tower, he studied the painting and wrote about how the same lake could make different people feel sad or joyful. He then answered what a true official should do: worry before the people worry, and rejoice only after the people rejoice.
How do you use 先天下之忧而忧 in a sentence?
Our class monitor stayed after school to help everyone finish the project first. She really lives the meaning of 先天下之忧而忧.
我们班长放学后留下来先帮大家完成项目，真是先天下之忧而忧的精神。
Common mistake
Do not use this idiom for someone who is simply anxious about their own problems. It praises a person who puts the public's needs first, not someone who worries about everything.
不要把这个成语用来形容只是在担心自己事情的人。它赞扬的是把大家的需要放在前面的人，不是指什么都焦虑的人。
More examples and usage guide