水土不服
shuǐ tǔ bù fú
not acclimatised; unable to adapt to a new place
Character by character
水shuǐ
water
water
土tǔ
soil
soil
不bù
not
not
服fú
agree with
agree with
Example
他刚到南方的时候水土不服，一连几天吃不下饭，晚上也睡不好。
When he first arrived in the south the new climate disagreed with him: for days he could not eat, and he slept badly at night.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Literally a body that does not agree with a new place’s water and soil. Now also said of firms, products and methods that fail to adapt: 国外的模式搬到中国，往往水土不服.
Learn this in Lesson 69 · HSK 6: 中国品牌出海 (Chinese companies go global)
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 →