发愤忘食

Origin and story

In the Analects' Shu Er chapter, the Lord of She asks Zilu about Confucius, but Zilu gives no answer. Confucius then suggests a description of himself: someone whose earnest effort makes him forget to eat, whose joy makes him forget his worries, and who does not notice old age approaching.

The four characters occur directly in this self-portrait. Fen here concerns energetic commitment and striving, not simply being angry. The neighboring words about joy matter: the passage depicts deep absorption in a meaningful pursuit, rather than a person refusing food out of resentment. Later usage praises similarly wholehearted dedication to study or work.