千变万化
千变万化 (qiān biàn wàn huà) literally means “thousand changes ten thousand transformations” and expresses “ever-changing; constantly varying”. 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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Ever-changing; constantly varying
Pronunciation: qiān biàn wàn huà
Literal meaning: Thousand changes ten thousand transformations
Origin & Usage
This idiom uses the large numbers 'thousand' (千) and 'ten thousand' (万) with 'change' (变) and 'transform' (化) to describe constant flux. The hyperbolic numbers emphasize the endless variety of transformations. The phrase reflects Daoist philosophy regarding the ceaseless change underlying apparent stability. It appears in texts describing nature, military situations, and human affairs. Modern usage describes highly variable or unpredictable situations, from weather patterns to market conditions to rapidly evolving technologies.
Examples
English: "The stock market's constant fluctuations are hard to predict."
Chinese: 股市千变万化，难以预测。
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一帆风顺
yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 千变万化 mean in English?
千变万化 (qiān biàn wàn huà) literally translates to “Thousand changes ten thousand transformations” and is used to express “Ever-changing; constantly varying”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 千变万化 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving ever-changing; constantly varying.
What is the pinyin for 千变万化?
The pinyin pronunciation for 千变万化 is “qiān biàn wàn huà”.