Chinese word

七上八下

Pronunciation

Pinyinqī shàng bā xià

Meaning

  • idiomuneasy

Example

开会前我总是七上八下。kāi huì qián wǒ zǒng shì qī shàng bā xià

Before meetings, I always feel uneasy.

Illustration for 七上八下 (uneasy)

More examples

收到陌生电话后她整晚七上八下。shōu dào mò shēng diàn huà hòu tā zhéng wǎn qī shàng bā xià

After receiving a call from a stranger, she felt uneasy all night.

Core concept

An unsettled inner state that keeps swinging from one extreme to another.

Common phrases

  • 心里七上八下xīn lǐ qī shàng bā xià

    feel uneasy

  • 让人七上八下ràng rén qī shàng bā xià

    make someone uneasy

Similar words

心神不宁xīn shén bù níng: A restless state in which the mind cannot feel calm or at peace.
焦虑不安jiāo lǜ bù ān: Feeling anxious and uneasy because of worry about what may happen.
手忙脚乱shǒu máng jiǎo luàn: Being flustered and unable to act smoothly because of haste or confusion.
六神无主liù shén wú zhǔ: Being very flustered and not knowing what to do.

Definition in Chinese

因担心或紧张而心绪不宁、无法平静。yīn dān xīn huò jǐn zhāng ér xīn xù bù níng wú fǎ píng jìng

Word origin

七上八下 (qīshàngbāxià, "seven up, eight down") places seven above and eight below in a lively, uneven pattern, making the disorderly movement a memorable image for anxious feelings.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this idiom fits nervous anticipation before a test, interview, or meeting, while English often uses the broader word "nervous" for the same situation.

Other meanings

  • restlessidiom
  • anxiousidiom

Opposites

  • 镇定自若zhèn dìng zì ruòcalm and composedidiom
  • 心平气和xīn píng qì hécalm and even-temperedidiom

Word lists with this word