"Fa Fen Wang Shi" (Forgot Meals in Ardent Pursuit) comes from The Analects, Book 7 (Shu Er), and is a famous quote in which Confucius describes his own attitude toward learning: "He is a man who, in his eager pursuit of knowledge, forgets his meals; in the joy of it, forgets his worries, and does not even notice that old age is approaching." It means: to work with such determination that one even forgets to eat; to be so joyful that one forgets one's sorrows, and does not even realize that one is growing old. The core of this idiom lies in "fa fen," that is, resolving firmly and rousing one's spirits to pursue learning or a career to such an extent that one forgets to eat, describing extreme diligence and devotion. It is often used in a commendatory sense, praising a person's spirit of single-minded dedication and tireless striving. In cultural background, it embodies the Confucian attitude toward life of active striving and insatiable love of learning, emphasizing inner motivation and concentration. It is mostly used to describe a state of self-forgetfulness in study, research, work, or creative endeavor. Its emotional tone is positive and admiring, carrying a sense of respect. It is close in meaning to "fei qin wang shi" (forgetting sleep and meals), but places greater emphasis on the initiative and fighting spirit of "fa fen."
📝 Example
1. In order to crack this research problem, he was so devoted that he forgot to eat, working in the lab for three days and three nights straight. (Describing how diligent and hardworking he was, to the point that he did not even bother to eat.)
2. On the eve of the college entrance examination, the students were all so absorbed in their studies that they forgot to eat, racing against time to review their lessons. (Describing how the students were fully focused on preparing for the exam and forgot to eat.)