翻来覆去

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: fān lái fù qù
• English Translation: Tossing and turning; over and over again
• Idiom Composition: 「翻」（To flip or turn over）＋「来」（To come; used here to indicate the back-and-forth nature of an action）＋「覆」（To overturn or flip; reinforces the meaning of 翻 (fān)）＋「去」（To go; used with 来 (lái) to show repetitive movement）
• Meaning: Literally meaning to flip over and over, this idiom describes the physical act of tossing and turning in bed due to an inability to sleep. It also refers to repeating the same words or actions many times, or ruminating on a thought without reaching a conclusion.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「翻来覆去」 contains the following nuances:

• Physical Repetition: The most common usage refers to the physical movement of rolling over in bed when unable to sleep, or flipping objects over while searching for something.
• Persistent Repetition of Words or Deeds: It describes bringing up the same topic or performing the same action repeatedly, often with a negative nuance of being tedious or redundant.
• Mental Rumination: It depicts a psychological state where one thinks about a problem from every angle or worries about it repeatedly without reaching a resolution.

3. Usage

「翻来覆去」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Insomnia and Worry: The most typical usage, describing someone rolling around in bed because they are too anxious or excited to sleep.
  • Example:「因为担心明天的面试，他在床上翻来覆去，怎么也睡不着。」
    （Because he was worried about tomorrow's interview, he was tossing and turning in bed and couldn't fall asleep.）
• Repetitive Speech or Action: Used when someone repeats the same point or action to the point of being annoying or when a discussion fails to progress.
  • Example:「这点小事你翻来覆去地说了好几遍，你不烦我都烦了。」
    （You have said this small thing over and over again; even if you aren't tired of it, I am.）
• Thorough Search or Examination: Describes the act of turning things over repeatedly to find something, or reviewing a document or problem multiple times.
  • Example:「我把抽屉翻来覆去看了好几次，还是没找到护照。」
    （I turned the drawer upside down several times but still couldn't find my passport.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这个问题我想了很久，翻来覆去还是拿不定主意。
   （I have thought about this problem for a long time, but after mulling it over and over, I still can't make up my mind.）
2. 这首歌的旋律很简单，就是那几句歌词翻来覆去地唱。
   （The melody of this song is very simple; it just repeats those few lines of lyrics over and over.）
3. 不管你怎么翻来覆去地解释，事实是无法改变的。
   （No matter how many times you repeatedly explain, the facts cannot be changed.）
4. 躺在陌生的床上，他翻来覆去直到天亮。
   （Lying in an unfamiliar bed, he tossed and turned until dawn.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The structure of 翻来覆去 (fān lái fù qù) follows a common Chinese pattern of [Verb] + 来 (lái) + [Verb] + 去 (qù), which emphasizes the repetition or continuation of an action. Other examples include 走来走去 (zǒu lái zǒu qù) meaning 'pacing back and forth' and 想来想去 (xiǎng lái xiǎng qù) meaning 'thinking something over and over'.
• While 翻来覆去 (fān lái fù qù) is the standard written form, you may occasionally see it written as 翻来复去 (fān lái fù qù), which carries the same meaning.
• This idiom is highly versatile, moving seamlessly between describing a physical struggle (insomnia) and a communicative frustration (being repetitive).

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 辗转反侧 (zhǎn zhuǎn fǎn cè): To toss and turn restlessly; a more literary way to describe insomnia caused by worry or longing.
  • 老生常谈 (lǎo shēng cháng tán): A common talk of an old scholar; refers to platitudes or things heard many times before, similar to the repetitive aspect of 翻来覆去 (fān lái fù qù).
  • 三番五次 (sān fān wǔ cì): To do something repeatedly or again and again.link
  • 朝三暮四 (zhāo sān mù sì): To change one's mind frequently or to play tricks with numbers.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 一言九鼎 (yī yán jiǔ dǐng): One word as heavy as nine tripod cauldrons; refers to someone whose words carry great weight and are not repeated or changed lightly, contrasting with the fickle or repetitive nature of 翻来覆去 (fān lái fù qù).
  • 高枕无忧 (gāo zhěn wú yōu): To sleep on a high pillow without worries; to be totally at peace, the opposite of tossing and turning.
  • 一劳永逸 (yī láo yǒng yì): To achieve lasting results with a single effort.link

6. Summary

The idiom 翻来覆去 (fān lái fù qù) is a versatile expression used to describe repetitive movements or thoughts. While most commonly associated with the physical act of tossing and turning in bed, it is also frequently used to criticize someone for being repetitive or to describe a state of mental indecision.