翻江倒海
fān jiāng dǎo hǎi
overwhelming force; (of the stomach or feelings) churning
Character by character
翻fān
overturn
overturn
江jiāng
rivers
rivers
倒dǎo
upend
upend
海hǎi
seas
seas
Example
船晃得太厉害，我胃里一阵翻江倒海，差点儿吐出来。
The boat was rolling so badly that my stomach churned and I nearly threw up.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
First of the might of gods, storms and armies (哪吒闹海 is the classic picture); in daily speech mostly of a churning stomach or of feelings in turmoil: 心里翻江倒海.
Learn this in Lesson 66 · HSK 6: 《哪吒2》与中国电影 (Ne Zha 2 and Chinese cinema)
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 →