一落千丈
一落千丈 (yī luò qiān zhàng) literally means “fall a thousand zhang” and expresses “rapid decline”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: yi luo qian zhang, yi luo qian zhang,一落千丈 meaning, 一落千丈 in english
Rapid decline
Pronunciation: yī luò qiān zhàng Literal meaning: Fall a thousand zhang
Origin & Usage
Han Yu's poem on hearing the monk Ying play the zither tracks the music climbing, inch by inch, until it can go no higher — and then losing its footing and dropping (落) a thousand (千) 丈 (zhàng) and more. It is a description of pitch. The 丈 is about three metres, so the figure is a fall of some kilometres, which is the point. Chinese now applies it to share prices, grades, reputations and form, and it always implies the fall was both sudden and from a height.
Examples
English: "After the scandal, his reputation fell dramatically."
Chinese: 在丑闻之后，他的名声一落千丈。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
火冒三丈
huǒ mào sān zhàng
Explode in extreme anger or rage
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千篇一律
qiān piān yī lǜ
Lack of originality
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千钧一发
qiān jūn yī fà
Extreme danger
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一饭千金
yī fàn qiān jīn
Repay small kindness lavishly
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一诺千金
yī nuò qiān jīn
Keep promises faithfully
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一字千金
yī zì qiān jīn
Invaluable writing
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瓜熟蒂落
guā shú dì luò
Things happen when ready
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落叶归根
luò yè guī gēn
Return to one's roots; go back home
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 一落千丈 mean in English?
一落千丈 (yī luò qiān zhàng) literally translates to “Fall a thousand zhang” and is used to express “Rapid decline”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 一落千丈 used?
Situation: After the scandal, his reputation fell dramatically.
What is the pinyin for 一落千丈?
The pinyin pronunciation for 一落千丈 is “yī luò qiān zhàng”.