呼风唤雨
呼风唤雨 (hū fēng huàn yǔ) literally means “summon wind, call rain” and expresses “wielding extraordinary influence over others”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: hu feng huan yu, hu feng huan yu,呼风唤雨 meaning, 呼风唤雨 in english
Wielding extraordinary influence over others
Pronunciation: hū fēng huàn yǔ
Literal meaning: Summon wind, call rain
Origin & Usage
Ancient shamanistic traditions gave us this image of summoning wind (呼风) and calling rain (唤雨). Tang Dynasty writers transformed it from literal weather control to metaphorical influence over events. The meteorological metaphor perfectly captured the ability to affect natural forces, representing extraordinary influence over circumstances.
When to Use
Situation: The influential investor could transform market trends with a single public statement
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 呼风唤雨 mean in English?
呼风唤雨 (hū fēng huàn yǔ) literally translates to “Summon wind, call rain” and is used to express “Wielding extraordinary influence over others”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 呼风唤雨 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving wielding extraordinary influence over others.
What is the pinyin for 呼风唤雨?
The pinyin pronunciation for 呼风唤雨 is “hū fēng huàn yǔ”.