📖 Meaning
To fundamentally reverse an established situation and change the course of events. It describes the ability to turn a dire or unfavorable circumstance into a favorable one through decisive action and determination.
📜 Origin Story
The term 乾坤 (gàn kūn) derives from the I Ching (Book of Changes), where 乾 represents heaven and 坤 represents earth, together symbolizing the universe or the overall state of affairs. The idiom pairs 扭转 (to turn around) with 乾坤 to convey dramatically altering the course of events. While it has no single definitive literary origin, it draws upon this ancient cosmological framework from the Zhou dynasty. The expression is widely used to praise someone's ability to fundamentally change a seemingly hopeless situation.
💡 Example Usage
在他的带领下，球队扭转干坤，取得了最终的胜利。
Under his leadership, the team turned the tide and achieved the final victory.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 扭转干坤
- Pinyin: niǔ zhuǎn gàn kūn
- Literal Translation: turn, reverse, heaven, earth
- Category: Recovery
- Characters: 4