Chinese word

呼风唤雨

Pronunciation

Pinyinhū fēng huàn yǔ

Meaning

  • idiomget one's way

Example

在公司里，他几乎能呼风唤雨。zài gōng sī lǐ tā jī hū néng hū fēng huàn yǔ

At the company, he can almost always get his way.

Illustration for 呼风唤雨 (get one's way)

More examples

不是谁都能呼风唤雨，那需要长期积累的人脉。bú shì shéi dōu néng hū fēng huàn yǔ nà xū yào cháng qī jī lěi de rén mài

Not just anyone can get their way; that requires years of building up connections.

Core concept

A powerful person or group appears to command the surrounding situation and make events follow its wishes.

Common phrases

  • 以为自己能呼风唤雨yǐ wéi zì jǐ néng hū fēng huàn yǔ

    believe they can get their way

  • 不是谁都能呼风唤雨bú shì shéi dōu néng hū fēng huàn yǔ

    Not just anyone can get their way

Similar words

翻云覆雨fān yún fù yǔ: Shift the situation and its course at will, often through forceful manipulation.
举足轻重jǔ zú qīng zhòng: Play a decisive role in events, with one's actions or position carrying great weight.

Definition in Chinese

用来比喩某人或集团具有极大影响力，能像控制风雨一样决定事情的走向。yòng lái bǐ yù mǒu rén huò jí tuán jù yǒu jí dà yíng xiǎng lì néng xiàng kòng zhì fēng yǔ yí yàng jué dìng shì qíng de zǒu xiàng

Word origin

呼 (hū, "call") and 唤 (huàn, "summon") frame 风 (fēng, "wind") and 雨 (yǔ, "rain") as forces brought under command, producing the figurative sense of directing major affairs.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, the idiom can sound dramatic, so it naturally describes a powerful public figure, company, or group rather than a minor personal decision.

Other meanings

  • control everythingidiom
  • wield great poweridiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word