CHENGYU
七上八下(qī shàng bā xià)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral, vivid
- Source:
- 明·施耐庵《水浒传》
MEANING
- Literal
- seven up and eight down
- Figurative meaning
- in an agitated state; the heart pounding with anxiety
ORIGIN STORY
In Water Margin, a frightened man's heart is "like fifteen buckets drawing water from a well — seven up and eight down at once." The image of buckets rattling up and down became the standard picture of anxiety.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“to have butterflies in one's stomach”
EXAMPLES
考试结果快出来了，他心里七上八下。Kǎoshì jiéguǒ kuài chūlái le, tā xīnli qī shàng bā xià.HSK6
With the exam results due, his heart goes seven up and eight down.
面试前我紧张得七上八下。Miànshì qián wǒ jǐnzhāng de qī shàng bā xià.HSK6
Before the interview, my nerves went seven up and eight down.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It is anxious agitation about an uncertain outcome — not excitement or physical motion.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Tap a character to explore it
TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01