芒刺在背 in English mang2 ci4 zai4 bei4 Meaning

Meanings

  • feeling brambles and thorns in one's back (idiomatic expression)
  • uneasy and nervous
  • to be on pins and needles

Simplified Characters

芒 刺 在 背

Traditional Characters

芒 刺 在 背

Pinyin

mang2 ci4 zai4 bei4

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

芒mang2awn (of cereals) 刺ci4(onom.) whoosh 在zai4(located) at 背bei4variant of 背[bei1]