Definition
翻跟头 is a separable verb-object (离合词) meaning 'to turn a somersault' or 'to do a cartwheel/loop'. The verb 翻 ('to flip/turn') and the noun 跟头 ('somersault') can split when adding aspect markers, measure words, or complements — for example, 翻了一个跟头 ('did a somersault') or 翻起跟头来 ('started doing somersaults'). You can also use it literally for acrobatics or figuratively for a major setback (摔跟头 'to fall and somersault' → 'to suffer a failure').
v.o.
to turn a somersaultto do a cartwheel or loop(figurative) to suffer a setback or failure (in 摔跟头)
Examples
- 翻跟头。Tā zài cǎodì shàng fān le yí ge fān gēn tou.He turned a somersault on the grass.
- 翻跟头。Zhège yùndòngyuán liánxù fān le sān ge fān gēn tou.This athlete did three somersaults in a row.
- ，翻跟头。Tā zuò shēngyi shībài, shuāi le yí ge dà fān gēn tou.He failed in business and took a big fall.
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