风雨飘摇

風雨飄搖

fēngyǔ-piāoyáo

idiom #52,646

Meanings

1 tossed about by wind and rain (idiom)
2 (of a situation) precarious; in turmoil

Characters

to flutter; drift

Examples

在战乱中，这个国家风雨飘摇了几十年。

Zài zhànluàn zhōng, zhège guójiā fēngyǔpiāoyáo le jǐshí nián.

Amid war, this country was buffeted by storms for decades.

公司财务风雨飘摇，员工人心惶惶。

Gōngsī cáiwù fēngyǔpiāoyáo, yuángōng rénxīnhuánghuáng.

The company's finances are on shaky ground and the staff are nervous.

Tips

history

From 《诗经·豳风·鸱鸮》: '予室翘翘，风雨所飘摇' — 'my nest is perched precariously, tossed by wind and rain.' The oldest attested 'precarious situation' metaphor in Chinese literature.

Stroke Order

风 fēng

雨 yǔ

飘 piāo

摇 yáo