风口浪尖 (fēng kǒu làng jiān) — center of a storm; forefront of a conflict or controversy

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'at the very center of a storm or controversy' — used when someone or something is in the fiercest, most exposed position of a conflict. Implies intense public scrutiny, not just ordinary participation.

idiom
center of a stormforefront of a conflict or controversy

Examples

  • 风口浪尖。
    Zhè wèi qǐ yè jiā zuì jìn zhàn zài le yú lùn de fēng kǒu làng jiān.
    This entrepreneur has recently been at the center of public opinion.
  • 风口浪尖，。
    Zài shì chǎng jìng zhēng de fēng kǒu làng jiān, zhǐ yǒu bú duàn chuàng xīn cái néng shēng cún.
    At the forefront of market competition, only continuous innovation can ensure survival.
  • ，风口浪尖。
    Tā zuò wéi fā yán rén, jīng cháng bèi tuī dào zhèng zhì fēng kǒu làng jiān.
    As a spokesperson, he is often pushed into the political storm.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

风口wind mouth
风fēngwind口kǒumouth
偏正Modifier + head
浪尖wave tip
浪làngwave尖jiāntip
偏正Modifier + head

风口 names the wind mouth and 浪尖 the wave tip, together marking the fiercest point of a storm.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 风 →

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

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

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
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
良
良liáng浪làng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

浪 pairs 水 (water) with 良, which supplies the sound. The water part points to its meaning of waves.

Open 浪 →

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

尖 puts 小 (small) above 大 (large), showing the width of an object gradually changing from small to large.

Open 尖 →

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