先
天
下
之
忧
而
忧
x
i
ā
n
t
i
ā
n
x
i
à
z
h
ī
y
ō
u
é
r
y
ō
u
Definitions
1. consider problems before others are even aware of them
Components
先天
xiān tiān
–
inborn
下
xià
–
down
之
zhī
–
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5])
忧
yōu
–
to worry
而
ér
–
and
Related Words
先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐
xiān tiān xià zhī yōu ér yōu , hòu tiān xià zhī lè ér lè
–
The first concern is affairs of state, enjoying the pleasure comes later. Quotation from essay On Yueyang Tower 岳陽樓記|岳阳楼记 by Song writer Fan Zhongyan 範仲淹|范仲淹