多事之秋 (duō shì zhī qiū) — a troubled period; times of crisis or frequent incidents

Definition

A literary idiom for a 'troubled period' full of incidents and upheaval — usually read, not spoken. Refers to the autumn of the year, a season stereotypically associated with trouble.

noun
a troubled periodtimes of crisis or frequent incidents

Examples

  • 多事之秋，。
    Nà jǐ nián zhèng shì gōng sī de duō shì zhī qiū, hěn duō yuán gōng dōu cí zhí le.
    Those years were exactly the company's troubled period; many employees resigned.
  • ，多事之秋。
    Lì shǐ shàng, měi gè cháo dài mò qī dōu shì duō shì zhī qiū.
    In history, the end of every dynasty is a time of crisis.
  • 多事之秋，。
    Zài zhè ge duō shì zhī qiū, wǒ men xū yào gèng jiā tuán jié.
    In these troubled times, we need to be more united.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hégrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
𤒅
𤒅𤒅秋qiū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 秋 pairs 禾 (grain) with 𤒅, which gives the sound.

Open 秋 →

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