twists and turns; ups and downs; complications
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
full of twists and turns; ups and downs
literaryOriginally described the tortuous and varied strokes in Chinese calligraphy. Later extended to describe literary structures with dramatic rises and falls, or metaphorically to describe processes full of obstacles and changes.
Wáng王
Xī羲
zhī之
de的
shū书
fǎ法
yī一
bō波
sān三
zhé折
，
bǐ笔
shì势
qiú遒
jìng劲
yǒu有
lì力
。
Wang Xizhi's calligraphy is full of twists and turns with vigorous and powerful strokes.
Zhè这
bù部
xiǎo小
shuō说
qíng情
jié节
yī一
bō波
sān三
zhé折
，
yǐn引
rén人
rù入
shèng胜
。
This novel has a plot full of twists and turns that captivates the reader.
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Tā他
de的
chuàng创
yè业
zhī之
lù路
yī一
bō波
sān三
zhé折
，
dàn但
cóng从
wèi未
fàng放
qì弃
。
His entrepreneurial journey has been full of complications, but he never gave up.
Tán谈
pàn判
guò过
chéng程
yī一
bō波
sān三
zhé折
，
zuì最
zhōng终
dá达
chéng成
le了
xié协
yì议
。
The negotiation process encountered many obstacles, but an agreement was finally reached.