风雨飘摇

風雨飄搖

fēngyǔ-piāoyáo

idiom #52,646

Meanings

1 tossed about by wind and rain
2 precarious; in turmoil

Characters

to flutter; drift

Examples

HSK 7-9

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.

HSK 7-9

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