七上八下

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: qī shàng bā xià
• English Translation: Seven up, eight down (to be at sixes and sevens / in a state of mental unrest)
• Idiom Composition: 「七」（Seven (used here to symbolize disorder or a large, irregular number)）＋「上」（Up / To rise）＋「八」（Eight (used alongside 'seven' to emphasize a lack of order or a sense of chaos)）＋「下」（Down / To fall）
• Meaning: A state of being extremely agitated, nervous, or unsettled due to worry, fear, or tension. It describes a heart that feels like it is jumping up and down, making it impossible to find peace of mind.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「七上八下」 contains the following nuances:

• Psychological Agitation: While the literal meaning involves physical movement, the idiom is almost exclusively used to describe the internal state of the 'heart' (心里 - xīn lǐ). It captures the 'fluttering' or 'pounding' sensation of anxiety.
• Numerical Metaphor: In Chinese, the numbers 'seven' and 'eight' are often paired to suggest a lack of order or a messy state, similar to the idiom 乱七八糟 (luàn qī bā zāo), which means 'a total mess.'

3. Usage

「七上八下」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Waiting for results or safety: Commonly used when the outcome of an event is uncertain, such as waiting for exam scores or worrying about a family member who is late coming home.
  • Example:「考试成绩还没出来，我心里七上八下的，根本睡不着觉。」
    （The exam results aren't out yet, so I am at sixes and sevens and can't sleep at all.）
• Nervousness or guilt: Describes the physical sensation of a racing heart when facing a crowd or feeling guilty about a secret.
  • Example:「第一次上台演讲，看着台下的观众，他心里七上八下，手心都在冒汗。」
    （Going on stage to give a speech for the first time, he felt his heart thumping as he looked at the audience, his palms sweating.）

Additional Examples:

1. 听说公司要裁员，大家心里都七上八下的。
   （Hearing that the company was going to conduct layoffs, everyone felt on edge.）
2. 看着他严肃的表情，我心里七上八下，不知道自己做错了什么。
   （Seeing his serious expression, I felt unsettled, wondering if I had done something wrong.）
3. 孩子还没回家，电话也打不通，急得妈妈心里七上八下。
   （The child hasn't come home yet and isn't answering the phone, making the mother extremely anxious.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The expression became famous through the classic novel Water Margin (水浒传). In Chapter 26, a character's heart is described as having 'fifteen buckets fetching water, with seven going up and eight going down,' creating a vivid image of chaotic movement.
• The number fifteen (seven plus eight) is significant in the original metaphor of the buckets, but modern usage focuses on the 'seven' and 'eight' to emphasize the irregular, unsettled rhythm of a nervous heart.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 忐忑不安 (tǎn tè bù ān): To be mentally uneasy or apprehensive; the characters 忐 and 忑 literally show the heart (心) moving up and down.
  • 坐立不安 (zuò lì bù ān): Literally 'uneasy whether sitting or standing'; describes being so restless with anxiety that one cannot stay still.
  • 提心吊胆 (tí xīn diào dǎn): To be in a state of anxiety and fear.link
  • 不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò): Not knowing what to do or how to react.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 泰然自若 (tài rán zì ruò): To remain perfectly calm and collected even in the face of unexpected events.
  • 心安理得 (xīn ān lǐ dé): To have a clear conscience and peace of mind because one knows they have done the right thing.link
  • 从容不迫 (cóng róng bù pò): Calm and unhurried.link

6. Summary

七上八下 (qī shàng bā xià) is used to describe a heart in turmoil. The metaphor originates from the image of multiple buckets in a well moving up and down in a chaotic, uncoordinated fashion. It is frequently used to describe the anxiety of waiting for important news or the nervousness one feels when a secret is about to be revealed.