惊涛骇浪
jīng tāo hài làng
raging seas; (fig.) great perils, upheaval
Character by character
惊jīng
frightening
frightening
涛tāo
billows
billows
骇hài
terrifying
terrifying
浪làng
waves
waves
Example
小船在惊涛骇浪中漂了一夜，天亮时终于靠了岸。
The little boat drifted all night through raging seas and reached the shore at last at dawn.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Literally a storm at sea; figuratively the perils of a life or an era: 经历过人生的惊涛骇浪. Often 在惊涛骇浪中. Its opposite is 风平浪静.
Learn this in Lesson 245 · HSK 9+: 妈祖 (Mazu, goddess of the sea)
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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