天翻地覆
tiān fān dì fù
earth-shaking; total and dramatic (change); (闹得…) in utter chaos
Character by character
天tiān
sky
sky
翻fān
overturn
overturn
地dì
earth
earth
覆fù
upturn
upturn
Example
孩子们一放假，家里就被闹得天翻地覆。
As soon as the children are on holiday, the house is turned upside down.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Two uses. First, a huge upheaval or change: 天翻地覆的变化, 一场天翻地覆的灾难. 翻天覆地 (lesson 3-1) means the same, and in 翻天覆地的变化 it usually praises a change for the better. Second, in everyday speech, a home or place in uproar: 闹得天翻地覆, 吵得天翻地覆; here 天翻地覆 is the usual form.
Learn this in Lesson 165 · HSK 7–9: 辽西的带毛恐龙 (The feathered dinosaurs of Liaoning)
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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