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峰回路转

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

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: fēng huí lù zhuǎn
  • English Translation: The path winds around the peaks (a dramatic turn of events)
  • Idiom Composition: Mountain peakTo wind, circle, or curveRoad or pathTo shift, change direction, or turn
  • Meaning: Originally describing a mountain path that winds around peaks, revealing new scenery at every turn. Figuratively, it refers to a situation that takes a sudden, dramatic turn for the better after reaching a deadlock or a low point.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

峰回路转 contains the following nuances:

  • An Unexpected Turning Point: This idiom emphasizes a 'dramatic change' rather than a gradual one. It highlights the moment a solution or hope appears just when a situation seemed hopeless or stuck.
  • Visual Imagery: It evokes the image of a mountain peak blocking one's path, only for the road to curve around it and reveal a brand-new horizon. It suggests that the 'end' of a road is often just a sharp turn.

3. Usage

峰回路转 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Business and Negotiations: Used when a deal or project on the verge of failure suddenly recovers due to a new factor.
    • Example:本以为谈判已经破裂,没想到对方突然做出让步,局势瞬间峰回路转
      I thought the negotiations had already failed, but the other party suddenly made a concession, and the situation took a dramatic turn for the better in an instant.
  • Life and Fate: Used in a literary or philosophical sense to show that hope remains even in the darkest times.
    • Example:人生际遇往往峰回路转,处于低谷时也不必过分绝望。
      Life's journey often takes unexpected turns, so there is no need to feel excessive despair when you are at a low point.
  • Describing Scenery (Original Meaning): Describing the physical experience of a winding mountain path where the view changes constantly.
    • Example:沿着山道向上,峰回路转,每一处弯道后的景色都截然不同。
      Climbing up the mountain path, the road winds around the peaks, and with every turn, a completely different view unfolds.

Additional Examples:

  1. 就在大家都要放弃的时候,事情出现了峰回路转的变化。
    Just as everyone was about to give up, the situation underwent a dramatic turn.
  2. 这部电影的情节跌宕起伏,结局更是峰回路转,出人意料。
    The plot of this movie is full of ups and downs, and the ending is even more full of twists and turns, exceeding all expectations.
  3. 经过多方努力,这家濒临破产的企业终于峰回路转,扭亏为盈。
    After efforts from many sides, this company on the brink of bankruptcy finally saw a breakthrough and turned its losses into profits.

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • The idiom originates from a passage in 'The Pavilion of the Old Drunkard' (醉翁亭记) by the famous Northern Song Dynasty writer Ouyang Xiu (欧阳修). He used it to describe the beautiful, winding scenery leading to a pavilion in the mountains.
  • It is frequently used alongside the idiom 柳暗花明 (liǔ àn huā míng). While 柳暗花明 (liǔ àn huā míng) focuses on the discovery of a beautiful new hope, 峰回路转 (fēng huí lù zhuǎn) places more emphasis on the process of the dramatic shift or the turning point itself.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

峰回路转 (fēng huí lù zhuǎn) describes a dramatic and positive shift in circumstances. While it originally depicted the winding nature of mountain trails, it is now most commonly used in business, storytelling, or life to describe an unexpected breakthrough or a 'plot twist' that leads to a favorable outcome. It serves as a hopeful reminder that even in a stalemate, a new path may be just around the corner.

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