从容不迫

• Pinyin: cóng róng bù pò
• Hanzi breakdown: 从容 = calm and composed; 不迫 = not rushed/pressed

Meaning

Calm and unhurried; composed and unruffled. An idiom describing someone who remains relaxed and poised without any sense of urgency.

A four-character idiom (成语) intensifying 从容 with 不迫 (not pressed/urgent). Often used to praise someone's grace under pressure. Implies both inner calm and confident capability.

Examples

1. 谈判桌上他从容不迫，每一步都走得很稳。 At the negotiation table, he was calm and unhurried, taking every step steadily.
2. 消防员从容不迫地指挥疏散，让惊慌的群众渐渐冷静下来。 The firefighter calmly directed the evacuation, gradually calming the panicked crowd.
3. 她从容不迫地完成了答辩，评委们都对她的表现印象深刻。 She completed her thesis defense with composure, and the examiners were all impressed by her performance.

Usage Guide

Context: praise, description, formal writing

Tone: admiring

Do Say

• 他总是从容不迫，让人很安心。(He's always calm and composed, which puts people at ease.)
• 遇到紧急情况要从容不迫。(Stay calm and composed in emergencies.)

Don't Say

• 他从容不迫地跑来跑去 (Contradictory — 从容不迫 implies unhurried movement, not running around)

Origin & History

Classical idiom combining 从容 (calm, at ease) with 不迫 (not urgent, not pressed). The double reinforcement creates strong emphasis on composure.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal