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风云突变

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: fēng yún tū biàn
  • English Translation: A sudden change in the situation (like wind and clouds changing suddenly)
  • Idiom Composition: 「风云」（Wind and clouds; metaphorically refers to an unstable or changing situation or the 'climate' of the times.）＋「突」（Suddenly or abruptly.）＋「变」（To change or transform.）
  • Meaning: A sudden and dramatic change in a situation, typically referring to political, social, or large-scale circumstances that shift from calm to turbulent or critical.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「风云突变」 contains the following nuances:

  • Large-scale Situational Shifts: Used for changes on a grand scale, such as national affairs, international relations, or entire markets, rather than minor personal matters.
  • Tension and Premonition: Often carries a sense of tension or an ominous atmosphere, similar to the feeling of an approaching storm.

3. Usage

「风云突变」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Politics and International Relations: A formal expression most frequently used in news or historical contexts to describe the outbreak of war, regime changes, or deteriorating diplomatic relations.
    • Example:「国际局势风云突变，各国纷纷加强了边境防御。」
      （The international situation suddenly took a turn for the worse, and countries began strengthening their border defenses.）
  • Business and Market Environment: Used when the business environment undergoes unpredictable changes, such as a stock market crash or a radical shift in industry rules.
    • Example:「随着新技术的发布，整个行业的竞争格局风云突变。」
      （With the release of new technology, the competitive landscape of the entire industry shifted dramatically.）
  • Sports and Match Momentum: Describes a dramatic turn of events in a game where the leading team suddenly loses its advantage.
    • Example:「下半场场上形势风云突变，客队连进两球反超了比分。」
      （In the second half, the momentum of the game changed abruptly, and the away team scored two goals in a row to take the lead.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 那一年，国内政坛风云突变，许多高官相继落马。
    （That year, the domestic political scene underwent a sudden upheaval, and many high-ranking officials were removed from power.）
  2. 面对风云突变的市场环境，企业必须具备快速反应的能力。
    （Facing a rapidly changing market environment, companies must possess the ability to react quickly.）
  3. 原本平静的海面突然狂风大作，真是天有不测风云，风云突变。
    （The originally calm sea suddenly turned into a violent storm; truly, 'heaven has unpredictable winds,' and the situation changed in an instant.）
  4. 就在谈判即将达成一致时，情况风云突变，对方提出了新的苛刻条件。
    （Just as the negotiations were about to reach an agreement, the situation took a sudden turn, and the other party proposed new, harsh conditions.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • The phrase is famously used in a poem by Mao Zedong (毛泽东) titled 'Qing Ping Yue: Jiang-Gui War' (清平乐·蒋桂战争), which describes the sudden outbreak of conflict between warlords. This cemented its use for political and military upheavals.
  • The term 风云 (fēng yún), literally 'wind and clouds,' is a classic Chinese metaphor for the 'climate' of a situation or the unpredictable nature of power and events.
  • This is a formal idiom (成语, chéngyǔ) frequently found in news reports, historical novels, and business analysis. It is rarely used in casual conversation to describe personal moods.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

风云突变 (fēng yún tū biàn) describes a sudden, drastic shift in a macro-level situation, such as in politics, military affairs, or business. It implies a transition from stability to crisis or chaos. It is a formal expression and is generally not used for minor personal changes.

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