📖 Meaning
Describes a situation that is unstable, turbulent, and far from calm. It refers to times of upheaval, social unrest, or a volatile environment where nothing feels settled or secure.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom appears in Ouyang Shan's novel 'Three Lanes' (《三家巷》), Chapter 18, set in early 20th century China. The protagonist and his friend Chen Wenting discuss the chaotic social conditions of their era. Despite recognizing that society was turbulent and unstable, they both maintain that the revolutionary cause still holds a bright and optimistic future. The phrase has since become a standard way to describe any period of great instability or unrest.
💡 Example Usage
那个年代社会动荡不安，百姓生活苦不堪言。
In that era, society was turbulent and unstable, and the common people suffered unbearably.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 动荡不安
- Pinyin: dòng dàng bù ān
- Literal Translation: move, shake, not, peaceful
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4