翻云覆雨
翻云覆雨 (fān yún fù yǔ) literally means “turn clouds, overturn rain” and expresses “fickle and manipulative”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: fan yun fu yu, fan yun fu yu,翻云覆雨 meaning, 翻云覆雨 in english
Fickle and manipulative
Pronunciation: fān yún fù yǔ Literal meaning: Turn clouds, overturn rain
Origin & Usage
This descends from Du Fu's Ballad of Poor Friendship: 翻手作云覆手雨 — a turn of the hand makes cloud (云), a turn back makes rain (雨). The poem is about the fickleness of people who court you while you are useful. The image is of power exercised carelessly and reversed at whim, and the original is bitter rather than admiring. Somebody who turns a situation at will, with the disapproving edge intact.
Examples
English: "The politician completely reversed his position after winning the election"
Chinese: 这位政治家在赢得选举后完全改变了立场
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
呼风唤雨
hū fēng huàn yǔ
Wielding extraordinary influence over others
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雨后春笋
yǔ hòu chūn sǔn
Emerging rapidly in great numbers
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天翻地覆
tiān fān dì fù
Dramatic upheaval
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翻天覆地
fān tiān fù dì
Dramatic transformation
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风云突变
fēng yún tū biàn
Sudden dramatic change
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金风玉露
jīn fēng yù lù
Autumn wind and dew; autumn scenery
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城门失火
chéng mén shī huǒ
Innocent bystanders suffer from others' problems
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覆水难收
fù shuǐ nán shōu
Actions cannot be undone
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 翻云覆雨 mean in English?
翻云覆雨 (fān yún fù yǔ) literally translates to “Turn clouds, overturn rain” and is used to express “Fickle and manipulative”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 翻云覆雨 used?
Situation: The politician completely reversed his position after winning the election
What is the pinyin for 翻云覆雨?
The pinyin pronunciation for 翻云覆雨 is “fān yún fù yǔ”.
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