七上八下
七上八下 (qī shàng bā xià) literally means “seven up eight down” and expresses “anxious and unsettled”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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Anxious and unsettled
Pronunciation: qī shàng bā xià
Literal meaning: Seven up eight down
Origin & Usage
This numerical idiom uses seven (七) up (上) and eight (八) down (下) to describe a state of anxious confusion, originating from Song Dynasty vernacular expressions. The numbers themselves carry no specific meaning beyond creating rhythmic opposition to represent mental turmoil. The phrase gained prominence through Yuan Dynasty dramatic works, where characters experiencing emotional distress would describe their hearts as going 'seven up eight down.' Unlike terms for simple nervousness, it specifically describes disorganized thinking from anxiety. Modern usage denotes the physical and mental experience of anxious anticipation, particularly before significant events with uncertain outcomes, capturing both the cognitive disarray and physical discomfort of such states.
Examples
English: "The candidate felt extremely anxious while waiting for the interview results"
Chinese: 候选人在等待面试结果时感到忐忑不安
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 七上八下 mean in English?
七上八下 (qī shàng bā xià) literally translates to “Seven up eight down” and is used to express “Anxious and unsettled”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 七上八下 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving anxious and unsettled.
What is the pinyin for 七上八下?
The pinyin pronunciation for 七上八下 is “qī shàng bā xià”.