一波三折 (yī bō sān zhé) — twists and turns; a series of setbacks or frustrations
Definition
Idiom for a story, project, or life that hits repeated setbacks before reaching a happy outcome. Suggests a hard-won resolution rather than simple difficulty.
idiom
twists and turnsa series of setbacks or frustrations
Examples
- 一波三折。Zhè ge xiàng mù cóng kāi shǐ dào jié shù jīng lì le yī bō sān zhé.This project went through many twists and turns from start to finish.
- 一波三折，。Tā de rén shēng dào lù yī bō sān zhé, dàn tā cóng wèi fàng qì.His life path has had many ups and downs, but he never gave up.
- 一波三折，。Zhè ge gù shi de qíng jié yī bō sān zhé, fēi cháng xī yǐn rén.The plot of this story is full of twists and turns, very engaging.
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