戰戰兢兢

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 195 (《詩經·小雅·小旻》):

戰戰兢兢，如臨深淵，如履薄冰。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]

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战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Zhànzhàn jīngjīng, rú lín shēnyuān, rú lǚ bóbīng. [Pinyin]

We should be apprehensive and careful,
As if we were on the brink of a deep gulf,
As if we were treading on thin ice.

戰戰兢兢

1. (ideophonic) trembling with fear; apprehensive and careful; fearful and cautious

   • 詔曰：“朕承宗廟之重，戰戰兢兢，懼失天心。” [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     诏曰：“朕承宗庙之重，战战兢兢，惧失天心。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Han, circa 1^st century CE

     Zhào yuē: “Zhèn chéng zōngmiào zhī zhòng, zhànzhànjīngjīng, jù shī tiānxīn.” [Pinyin]

     An imperial edict said, "Since We have succeeded to the heavy responsibilities of the imperial ancestral temples, trembling and circumspect, fearing that We might lose the will of Heaven."

• 戰兢兢／战兢兢