地动山摇
dì dòng shān yáo
the earth quakes and the mountains shake; an earth-shaking force or noise
Character by character
地dì
earth
earth
动dòng
moves
moves
山shān
mountains
mountains
摇yáo
shake
shake
Example
那天夜里突然地动山摇，全村人都从睡梦中惊醒了。
That night the ground suddenly heaved, and the whole village woke with a start.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Used literally of earthquakes and explosions, and figuratively of a huge noise or force: 欢呼声地动山摇 (cheering that shakes the ground). Also written 山摇地动.
Learn this in Lesson 120 · HSK 7–9: 定日地震 (Disaster report: the Tingri earthquake)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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