自怨自艾

Origin and story

In Mencius, Wan Zhang I, the discussion of royal succession turns to the Shang ruler Tai Jia. After Tai Jia overturns the standards established by Tang, the minister Yi Yin sends him away to Tong. The account says that he repents, reproaches himself and corrects himself, turning toward humane and righteous conduct. After three years of reform under Yi Yin's guidance, he returns to Bo.

The original expression therefore includes active self-correction, not merely helpless sorrow. Modern usage often describes dwelling on one's misfortunes or blaming oneself without moving forward. 艾 is pronounced yì here and carries the sense of remedying or correcting, rather than the usual plant-name pronunciation ài.