天翻地覆
天翻地覆 (tiān fān dì fù) literally means “heaven overturned, earth overturned” and expresses “dramatic upheaval”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: tian fan di fu, tian fan di fu,天翻地覆 meaning, 天翻地覆 in english
Dramatic upheaval
Pronunciation: tiān fān dì fù Literal meaning: Heaven overturned, earth overturned
Origin & Usage
The idiom 天翻地覆 (tiān fān dì fù) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to describe a situation where the world is turned upside down, indicating a dramatic change or upheaval. The characters paint a vivid image: 天 (tiān) means 'heaven' or 'sky,' 翻 (fān) means 'overturn,' 地 (dì) means 'earth,' and 覆 (fù) means 'cover' or 'overturn.' This idiom is often used to describe scenarios where everything is in chaos or has undergone a significant transformation. In modern usage, it can refer to both positive and negative changes, such as a revolution, a major life event, or a significant shift in circumstances.
Examples
English: "The political landscape changed dramatically after the revolution."
Chinese: 革命后，天翻地覆的变化让人震惊。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 天翻地覆 mean in English?
天翻地覆 (tiān fān dì fù) literally translates to “Heaven overturned, earth overturned” and is used to express “Dramatic upheaval”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 天翻地覆 used?
Situation: The political landscape changed dramatically after the revolution.
What is the pinyin for 天翻地覆?
The pinyin pronunciation for 天翻地覆 is “tiān fān dì fù”.