跌宕起伏
diē dàng qǐ fú
full of ups and downs; gripping
Character by character
跌diē
fall
fall
宕dàng
sway
sway
起qǐ
rise
rise
伏fú
fall
fall
Example
这部小说情节跌宕起伏，我一个晚上就看完了。
The novel’s plot is so full of twists and turns that I finished it in one night.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
跌宕 once meant free and unrestrained; now the phrase praises a gripping plot or a dramatic life: 跌宕起伏的情节, 跌宕起伏的一生. It can also describe markets or a match that swings back and forth.
Learn this in Lesson 65 · HSK 6: 网文与短剧 (Web novels and micro-dramas)
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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