斗转星移
dǒu zhuǎn xīng yí
the stars wheel on; time passes and things change
Character by character
斗dǒu
Dipper
Dipper
转zhuǎn
turns
turns
星xīng
stars
stars
移yí
shift
shift
Example
斗转星移，当年的小渔村已经成了国际大都市。
The years have rolled by, and the little fishing village of the past has become an international city.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
The Big Dipper (北斗) swings round the sky through the year, so its turning stands for time passing. Literary; usually opens a sentence before a picture of how much has changed. Close to 沧海桑田 (4-1) and 物换星移.
Learn this in Lesson 101 · HSK 6–7: 月球上的中国名字 (Chinese names on the Moon)
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.
Open the lesson →