既來之則安之

[wai ming]

Could anyone explain to me what this means? (Explanations in simpler Chinese welcome )

Here's the original sentence:

今日 ，程志剛的體力已經不容許他再度馳騁球場，他抱著既來之則安之，他選擇享受每一日，活出痛快的異國人生。

Thanks!

[amego]

HiHi wai ming

This is from my dict =p

My dict classified it under chengyu and it means

(以外的事态) 既然来了，就应该安下心来面对现实 (of unexpected things) since the problem has already come, its better to just face the music.

今日 ，程志剛的體力已經不容許他再度馳騁球場，他抱著既 來之則安之，他選擇享受每一日，活出痛快的異國人生。

Today, the deterioting physical strength of Cheng Zhi Gang rendered him unable to perform on the field/court again. However he faced the music and chose to enjoy the great days in the foreign land.

Pardon me for any clumsy translations.

[semantic nuance]

Hi wai ming,

A simpler Chinese explanation for 既來之, 則安之: 既然你來了, 你就放心/安心(面對會遇到的狀況).(literally since you have come, you just settle youresle to (deal with every possible situation you may encounter.) A similar chenyu for this is 隨遇而安.

Similiar equivalents in English may be :I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Or, Take things as they come.

Hope it helps!

[amego]

Hi wai ming,

A simpler Chinese explanation for 既來之, 則安之: 既然你來了, 你就放心/安心(面對會遇到的狀況).(literally since you have come, you just settle youresle to (deal with every possible situation you may encounter.) A similar chenyu for this is 隨遇而安.

Similiar equivalents in English may be :I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Or, Take things as they come.

Hope it helps!

Hey semantic nuance I think your translations are more accurate and apt! I gotta work harder

[wai ming]

Thanks amego and semantic_nuance for your explanations

A simpler Chinese explanation for 既來之, 則安之: 既然你來了, 你就放心/安心(面對會遇到的狀況).(literally since you have come, you just settle youresle to (deal with every possible situation you may encounter.) A similar chenyu for this is 隨遇而安.

Similiar equivalents in English may be :I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Or, Take things as they come.

So is it similar to 船到桥头自然直 or 顺其自然 (hopefully I've quoted those correctly)?

[semantic nuance]

Hey semantic nuance I think your translations are more accurate and apt! I gotta work harder

Amego, you're being modest. You did a great job.

So is it similar to 船到桥头自然直 or 顺其自然 (hopefully I've quoted those correctly)?

Yes, I think they're similar, and yes you've quoted those correctly.

[Sophia_Shang]

There is a commonly misunderstood about this phrase even among native speakers.

既来之则安之 origins from Confucius' Analects like that:

Book 16

The head of the Chi family was going to attack Chwan-yu.

Zan Yu and Chi-lu had an interview with Confucius, and said, "Our chief, Chil is going to commence operations against Chwan-yu."

Confucius said, "Ch'iu, is it not you who are in fault here?

"Now, in regard to Chwan-yu, long ago, a former king appointed its ruler to preside over the sacrifices to the eastern Mang; moreover, it is in the midst of the territory of our state; and its ruler is a minister in direct connection with the sovereign: What has your chief to do with attacking it?"

Zan Yu said, "Our master wishes the thing; neither of us two ministers wishes it."

Confucius said, "Ch'iu, there are the words of Chau Zan, -'When he can put forth his ability, he takes his place in the ranks of office; when he finds himself unable to do so, he retires from it. How can he be used as a guide to a blind man, who does not support him when tottering, nor raise him up when fallen?'

"And further, you speak wrongly. When a tiger or rhinoceros escapes from his cage; when a tortoise or piece of jade is injured in its repository:-whose is the fault?"

Zan Yu said, "But at present, Chwan-yu is strong and near to Pi; if our chief do not now take it, it will hereafter be a sorrow to his descendants."

Confucius said. "Ch'iu, the superior man hates those declining to say-'I want such and such a thing,' and framing explanations for their conduct.

"I have heard that rulers of states and chiefs of families are not troubled lest their people should be few, but are troubled lest they should not keep their several places; that they are not troubled with fears of poverty, but are troubled with fears of a want of contented repose among the people in their several places. For when the people keep their several places, there will be no poverty; when harmony prevails, there will be no scarcity of people; and when there is such a contented repose, there will be no rebellious upsettings.

"So it is.-Therefore, if remoter people are not submissive, all the influences of civil culture and virtue are to be cultivated to attract them to be so; and when they have been so attracted, they must be made contented and tranquil. (夫如是，故远人不服，则修文德以来之。既来之，则安之。)

"Now, here are you, Yu and Ch'iu, assisting your chief. Remoter people are not submissive, and, with your help, he cannot attract them to him. In his own territory there are divisions and downfalls, leavings and separations, and, with your help, he cannot preserve it.

"And yet he is planning these hostile movements within the state.-I am afraid that the sorrow of the Chi-sun family will not be on account of Chwan-yu, but will be found within the screen of their own court."

Confucius said, "When good government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive military expeditions proceed from the son of Heaven. When bad government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive military expeditions proceed from the princes. When these things proceed from the princes, as a rule, the cases will be few in which they do not lose their power in ten generations. When they proceed from the great officers of the princes, as a rule, the case will be few in which they do not lose their power in five generations. When the subsidiary ministers of the great officers hold in their grasp the orders of the state, as a rule the cases will be few in which they do not lose their power in three generations.

Ancient Chinese is so difficult to read that many Chinese understood it, so 既来之则安之 gradually lost its initial meaning.