风云突变
风云突变 (fēng yún tū biàn) literally means “wind cloud sudden change” and expresses “sudden dramatic change”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: feng yun tu bian, feng yun tu bian,风云突变 meaning, 风云突变 in english
Sudden dramatic change
Pronunciation: fēng yún tū biàn Literal meaning: Wind cloud sudden change
Origin & Usage
Wind (风) and cloud (云) changing (变) abruptly (突). The pairing is the Chinese shorthand for the state of the sky, and by extension for the state of affairs, which is why 风云 turns up in so many phrases about the political weather. What this one specifies is the speed. It describes a situation that has reversed faster than anyone could position for, and it is said of markets, of coups, and of the moment a negotiation goes the other way.
Examples
English: "The market landscape changed completely after the new regulations"
Chinese: 新规定出台后，市场格局完全改变了
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
风云际会
fēng yún jì huì
Perfect moment of opportunity
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翻云覆雨
fān yún fù yǔ
Fickle and manipulative
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风声鹤唳
fēng shēng hè lì
Overly fearful and suspicious
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金风玉露
jīn fēng yù lù
Autumn wind and dew; autumn scenery
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风月无边
fēng yuè wú biān
Boundless natural beauty and romance
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风华正茂
fēng huá zhèng mào
At peak of youth's ability
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曲突徙薪
qū tū xǐ xīn
Take precautions before disaster
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风雨无阻
fēng yǔ wú zǔ
Persist despite difficult conditions
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 风云突变 mean in English?
风云突变 (fēng yún tū biàn) literally translates to “Wind cloud sudden change” and is used to express “Sudden dramatic change”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 风云突变 used?
Situation: The market landscape changed completely after the new regulations
What is the pinyin for 风云突变?
The pinyin pronunciation for 风云突变 is “fēng yún tū biàn”.
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