yáoshēnyībiàn

摇身一变

Word · VerbTraditional搖身一變

shake body and transform; change appearance/identity suddenly

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

verb

(in mythology or fiction) to shake one's body and transform into another form

literary

Originally describes the magical transformation of gods, demons or characters in classical Chinese fiction.

Sūn孙
Wù悟
kōng空
yáo摇
shēn身
yī一
biàn变
 ，
biàn变
chéng成
le了
yī一
zhī只
cāng苍
ying蝇
 。

Sun Wukong shook his body and transformed into a fly.

Nà那
yāo妖
guài怪
yáo摇
shēn身
yī一
biàn变
 ，
huà化
zuò作
yī一
zhèn阵
qīng清
fēng风
táo逃
zǒu走
le了
 。

That demon shook its body and transformed into a gust of wind to escape.

2.

verb

(of a villain) to reappear under a different guise; to suddenly change one's identity or appearance

derogatory

Modern usage often carries a negative connotation, describing criminals or dishonest people who change their appearance or identity to evade detection or deceive others.

Nà那
ge个
piàn骗
zi子
yáo摇
shēn身
yī一
biàn变
 ，
chéng成
le了
suǒ所
wèi谓
de的
 "
tóu投
zī资
zhuān专
jiā家
 "
 。

That swindler transformed himself into a so-called "investment expert".

Tā他
gǎi改
míng名
huàn换
xìng姓
 ，
yáo摇
shēn身
yī一
biàn变
chéng成
wéi为
fù富
shāng商
 。

He changed his name and surname, transforming himself into a wealthy merchant.

Show 1 more example
Zhè这
míng名
táo逃
fàn犯
yáo摇
shēn身
yī一
biàn变
 ，
chéng成
le了
sì寺
miào庙
lǐ里
de的
 "
gāo高
sēng僧
 "
 。

This fugitive transformed himself into a "venerable monk" in the temple.