Chinese idiom · 成语
杯弓蛇影
Meaning
To be overly suspicious or paranoid, mistaking harmless things for threats.
Character by character
Origin and story
Traditional anecdoteYing Shao’s Fengsu Tongyi (風俗通義), volume 9, tells a story about his grandfather Ying Chen and an official named Du Xuan. While drinking, Du Xuan sees what looks like a snake in his cup. He drinks despite his fear, then becomes ill, believing he has swallowed the snake. When Ying Chen learns what happened, he notices that a red crossbow hanging on the wall could have produced the snake-like image.
He brings Du Xuan back to the same place and shows him the reflection again, explaining its cause. According to the account, Du Xuan’s fear clears and he recovers. The Jin Shu (晉書) records a similar story about Yue Guang and a guest. The idiom describes frightening oneself by mistaking an innocent appearance for a threat.
In everyday life
同事只是忘了回消息，你别杯弓蛇影，以为他在生你的气。
Your colleague just forgot to reply. Don’t read too much into it and imagine he’s angry with you.
Use it for an unfounded fearful interpretation, rather than dismissing a concern supported by evidence.