1.
needless worry, groundless fear, unfounded anxiety
Worry about something that is unlikely to happen or that turns out to be nothing. From a Chinese story about a man who worried the sky would fall.
杞憂 is a literary/formal word for unnecessary worry.
Origin: From a Chinese story about a man in the state of Qi who constantly worried that the sky might fall, hence "Qi's worry" (杞=Qi, 憂=worry).
Common expressions
- 杞憂に終わる (turn out to be a needless worry)
- 杞憂であってほしい (I hope it's just unfounded worry)
- 杞憂かもしれないが (it may be needless worry, but...)
Usage note: A somewhat literary or formal expression. In casual speech, 取り越し苦労 or simply 心配しすぎ might be used instead.