JLPT N2Four-character idioms
七転八倒
- Meaning
- 苦痛のあまり何度も転げ回ってもがき苦しむこと
- Explanation
- "七転八倒" expresses the appearance of rolling about and writhing in agony again and again from too much pain. It is used in scenes depicting intense pain or anguish. c3's "falling seven times but getting up eight" confuses it with "七転八起", which expresses perseverance; this one means writhing in suffering and is a different word.
Original Japanese explanation
「七転八倒」は、苦痛のあまり何度も転げ回ってもがき苦しむ様子を表します。激しい痛みや苦悩を描く場面で使います。c3の「七回転んでも八回起きる」は粘り強さを表す「七転八起」と混同したもので、こちらは苦しみもがく意で別語です。
Quick check
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