fān翻overturntiān天heavenfù覆overturndì地earth
Earth-shattering; a world-overturning change.
Literal meaning
overturn (翻) — heaven (天) — overturn (覆) — earth (地)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase used to describe a dramatic change or upheaval.
Examples
gǎi改gé革kāi开fàng放gěi给zhōng中guó国dài带lái来le了fān翻tiān天fù覆dì地de的biàn变huà化。
The reform and opening-up policy brought earth-shattering changes to China.
zì自cóng从tā他lái来le了yǐ以hòu后，gōng公sī司fā发shēng生le了fān翻tiān天fù覆dì地de的biàn变huà化。
Since he came, the company has undergone tremendous changes.
Usage & nuances
Implies a complete and radical transformation.
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