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峰回路转 (fēng huí lù zhuǎn) — (idiom) to take an unexpected turn for the better; the situation suddenly improves after setbacks

Definition

A chengyu describing an unexpected turn for the better — 'the situation suddenly improves after setbacks', as in a difficult negotiation that finally succeeds.

idiom
to take an unexpected turn for the betterthe situation suddenly improves after setbacks

Examples

  • ，峰回路转。
    Yù dào kùn nan shí bú yào fàng qì, yīn wèi shì qing zǒng huì yǒu fēng huí lù zhuǎn de shí hou.
    When you encounter difficulties, don't give up, because things will always have a turnaround.
  • 峰回路转，。
    Zhè cì tán pàn fēng huí lù zhuǎn, zuì zhōng dá chéng le xié yì.
    This negotiation took an unexpected turn, and eventually an agreement was reached.
  • ，峰回路转，。
    Shuí yě méi xiǎng dào, zài fēng huí lù zhuǎn zhī hòu, gōng sī jū rán huò dé le tóu zī.
    No one expected that after a turnaround, the company somehow received investment.

Origin

Characters in this word

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
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
夆
夆páng峰fēng
Same sound today

峰 combines 山 (mountain) with 夆, which gives the character its sound.

Open 峰 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

回 comes from a drawing of a spiral, showing something turning around.

Open 回 →

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
足足zú
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè路lù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Open 路 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 轉; 转 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān轉zhuǎn
Same sound today

The traditional form 轉 combines 車, a carriage, with 專 as a sound part; the simplified 转 is a later shorthand.

Open 转 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Change & ProcessIdioms & Set Phrases

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