📖 Meaning
Describes a state of great anxiety, nervousness, or inner turmoil where one's emotions fluctuate unpredictably. It conveys the feeling of being unsettled, unable to find peace of mind.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom has roots in classical Chinese numerological and folk traditions. The phrase appears in early vernacular literature, including works from the Ming dynasty such as Journey to the West (西游记), where it is used to depict characters' restless, wavering states of mind. The numbers seven and eight were often used colloquially to suggest disorder or instability, and the contrasting directions 'up' and 'down' vividly capture the image of a heart bouncing erratically. Over time it became a standard expression for anxiety and emotional unease in spoken and written Chinese.
💡 Example Usage
得知考试结果还没公布，她心里七上八下的，坐立不安。
With the exam results not yet announced, she was on edge and couldn't sit still.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 七上八下
- Pinyin: qī shàng bā xià
- Literal Translation: seven up, eight down
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4