dead-alive

dead-alive

As a Chinese idiom, Xi ǔ m ù s ǐ Hu ī in pinyin means decaying trees and ashes after the fire; it means extremely depressed and indifferent to anything. It comes from Zhuangzi's Qi Wu Lun.

Idiom explanation

Dry trees and cold ashes after the fire. It refers to being extremely depressed and indifferent to anything.

The origin of Idioms

In Zhuangzi's Qi Wu Lun: "is it possible to describe a firm mind as if it were withered, while a firm mind as if it were dead?"

Idiom usage

Combined; as object and attribute; with derogatory meaning.