逆风

逆風
nìfēng
noun #34,563

Meanings

  1. 1 a headwind
  2. 2 to go against the wind
  3. 3 (figurative) to push on against adverse circumstances

Examples

Jīntiān qí chē yīzhí shì nìfēng, tèbié lèi.
Today I rode into a headwind the whole way — exhausting.
Tā zài nìfēng zhōng jiānchí wánchéng le bǐsài.
He pushed through the headwind and finished the race.

Tips

usage
Both literal (sailing, cycling, running) and figurative ('against the trend / fighting headwinds'). The figurative use exploded after the popular phrase 逆风 (nìfēng fānpán, 'flip the game in the face of a headwind') from gaming and sports commentary, now used for any underdog comeback.
memory
Direct opposite of 顺风 (shùnfēng, tailwind / smooth-sailing). (nì) means 'against / contrary' — same in 逆流 (against the current), 叛逆 (rebellious), 逆境 (adversity).

Stroke Order

fēng