📖 Meaning
This idiom describes a path or road that is uneven and rugged, with highs and lows throughout. It is used to depict rough, bumpy terrain that makes walking difficult.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Qing dynasty novel 'Nie Hai Hua' (孽海花) by Zeng Pu, specifically in the twenty-third chapter. In the scene, a character walks alone along an uneven, rugged path, stumbling forward step by step. The idiom vividly conveys the difficulty of traversing such irregular ground.
💡 Example Usage
这条山路七高八低，走起来十分费劲。
This mountain path is so uneven and rugged that walking on it takes a lot of effort.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 七高八低
- Pinyin: qī gāo bā dī
- Literal Translation: seven high, eight low
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4