fān翻turnlái来comefù覆turnqù去go
To toss and turn; to think something over and over.
Literal meaning
turn (翻) — come (来) — turn (覆) — go (去)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing repetitive actions or thoughts.
Examples
tā他fān翻lái来fù覆qù去shuì睡bù不zháo着。
He tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
zhè这ge个wèn问tí题wǒ我fān翻lái来fù覆qù去xiǎng想le了hǎo好jǐ几biàn遍。
I've thought about this problem over and over again.
Usage & nuances
Can describe physical restlessness or mental preoccupation.
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