阵痛 (zhèn tòng) — labor pains (in childbirth); growing pains; temporary difficulties during a transition or reform
Definition
A metaphor borrowed from childbirth: 'labor pains' literally, but more often used for the painful but temporary difficulties that come with reform or transition — the growing pains of change.
noun
labor pains (in childbirth)growing painstemporary difficulties during a transition or reform
Examples
- 阵痛，。Chǎn fù jīng lì le jǐ gè xiǎo shí de zhèn tòng, zhōng yú shēng xià le bǎo bao.The mother endured several hours of labor pains and finally delivered the baby.
- 阵痛，。Jīng jì zhuǎn xíng qī bì rán huì chū xiàn zhèn tòng, dàn cháng qī lái kàn shì yǒu yì de.Growing pains inevitably appear during economic transition, but they are beneficial in the long run.
- 阵痛，。Gǎi gé dài lái de zhèn tòng shì zàn shí de, bù néng yīn yē fèi shí.The pains brought by reform are temporary; we cannot stop eating for fear of choking.
Appears in
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