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出没风波里

出沒風波裏
chūmòfēngbōlǐ
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 appearing and disappearing amid the waves
  2. 2 (fig.) toiling in constant peril (originally of fisherfolk on rough seas)
  3. 3 (lit.) emerge and submerge in the wind-waves

Examples

海上的渔民一生都出没风波里。
Hǎishàng de yúmín yīshēng dōu chūmò fēngbō lǐ.
The fisherfolk at sea spend their whole lives 'appearing and disappearing among the waves.'
创业者每天出没风波里，承受着巨大压力。
Chuàngyèzhě měitiān chūmò fēngbō lǐ, chéngshòuzhe jùdà yālì.
Entrepreneurs daily 'bob in and out of the waves,' under enormous pressure.

Tips

history
From 范仲淹《江上渔者》(Fan Zhongyan, Northern Song, 11th c.): 江上往来人，但爱鲈鱼美。君看一叶舟，出没风波里 (The travelers on the river only love the fine bass — but look at that tiny leaf of a boat, appearing and vanishing in the waves). Fan's quiet protest: diners praise the fish, forgetting the fishermen risking their lives. Four lines, twenty characters — a paragon of Song moral concision.
usage
Quote together with 君看一叶舟 for maximum effect. 里 (裏) here is the locative 'in / amid.' 风波 literally 'wind-waves'; the compound extends to any turbulent situation in modern Chinese, so the line works for any precarious livelihood.

Stroke Order

出 chū
没 méi
风 fēng
波 bō
里 lǐ