Chinese word

翻天覆地

Pronunciation

Pinyinfān tiān fù dì

Meaning

  • idiomchange dramatically

Example

这次改革让社会翻天覆地。zhè cì gǎi gé ràng shè huì fān tiān fù dì

This reform changes society dramatically.

Illustration for 翻天覆地 (change dramatically)

More examples

公司在短时间内经历了翻天覆地的变化。gōng sī zài duǎn shí jiān nèi jīng lì le fān tiān fù dì de biàn huà

The company experienced dramatic changes in a short time.

Core concept

The entire order of a situation seems to flip over, leaving a fundamentally new landscape.

Common phrases

  • 经历翻天覆地的变化jīng lì fān tiān fù dì de biàn huà

    experience dramatic changes

  • 引起翻天覆地的变革yín qǐ fān tiān fù dì de biàn gé

    bring about dramatic reform

Similar words

天翻地覆tiān fān dì fù: Describes a powerful upheaval that seems to turn the whole order of things upside down.
改天换地gǎi tiān huàn dì: Describes the complete reshaping of social systems or everyday ways of living.
脱胎换骨tuō tāi huàn gǔ: Describes a profound change in nature or condition that creates something seemingly new.
面目全非miàn mù quán fēi: Describes an altered appearance or situation that no longer resembles its former state.

Definition in Chinese

指社会、局势或事物发生巨大而彻底的改变。zhǐ shè huì jú shì huò shì wù fā shēng jù dà ér chè dǐ de gǎi biàn

Word origin

The idiom combines 翻 (fān, "turn over") + 天 (tiān, "sky") + 覆 (fù, "overturn") + 地 (dì, "earth") to picture the sky and earth being overturned, an image of complete transformation.

Usage tips

  • This idiom fits changes to society, institutions, or major situations, while using it for a minor change in a routine sounds exaggerated.

Other meanings

  • dramatic changeidiom

Opposites

  • 波澜不惊bō lán bù jīngremain calm and uneventfulidiom

Word lists with this word