翻天覆地
翻天覆地 (fān tiān fù dì) literally means “overturn sky and earth” and expresses “dramatic transformation”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: fan tian fu di, fan tian fu di,翻天覆地 meaning, 翻天覆地 in english
Dramatic transformation
Pronunciation: fān tiān fù dì Literal meaning: Overturn sky and earth
Origin & Usage
Sky (天) overturned (翻), earth (地) upended (覆) — the same four characters as 天翻地覆 in a different order, and the two are used interchangeably. If there is a distinction in practice it is one of emphasis: this ordering puts the verbs first and reads as slightly more active, which suits deliberate transformation, while the other reads more like a description of the resulting chaos. Both are used for revolutions, redevelopments and any change that leaves nothing recognisable.
Examples
English: "The new policy transformed the entire industry overnight."
Chinese: 这项新政策翻天覆地地改变了整个行业。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
天翻地覆
tiān fān dì fù
Dramatic upheaval
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翻云覆雨
fān yún fù yǔ
Fickle and manipulative
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覆水难收
fù shuǐ nán shōu
Actions cannot be undone
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翻山越岭
fān shān yuè lǐng
Cross difficult terrain; overcome major obstacles
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天经地义
tiān jīng dì yì
Universal truth
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冰天雪地
bīng tiān xuě dì
Harsh conditions
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改天换地
gǎi tiān huàn dì
Profound transformation
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天长地久
tiān cháng dì jiǔ
Everlasting; eternal
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 翻天覆地 mean in English?
翻天覆地 (fān tiān fù dì) literally translates to “Overturn sky and earth” and is used to express “Dramatic transformation”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 翻天覆地 used?
Situation: The new policy transformed the entire industry overnight.
What is the pinyin for 翻天覆地?
The pinyin pronunciation for 翻天覆地 is “fān tiān fù dì”.