"sit idly by" in Chinese (Simplified)

• 袖手旁观

Definition

在能够协助或阻止时，对事情发生袖手旁观，不采取任何行动。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Simplified))

常用于批评别人消极、没有采取行动，尤其涉及社会问题或正义。多见于书面或较正式场合，也可口语使用。

Examples

We cannot sit idly by and watch them suffer.

我们不能**袖手旁观**，看着他们受苦。

You shouldn't sit idly by when someone needs help.

当有人需要帮助时，你不应该**袖手旁观**。

The teacher refused to sit idly by during the bullying.

老师拒绝在霸凌时**袖手旁观**。

How can you just sit idly by while all this is happening?

你怎么能在这一切发生时还**袖手旁观**？

They watched the company collapse but just sat idly by.

他们看着公司倒闭却只是**袖手旁观**。

If you sit idly by, things will only get worse.

如果你**袖手旁观**，事情只会变得更糟。