輾轉反側

Chinese

to toss and turn; to pass through many hands or places to turn over in bed; to be unable to sleep
trad. (輾轉反側) 輾轉 反側
simp. (辗转反侧) 辗转 反侧

Etymology

From the Classic of Poetry:

求之不得寤寐思服悠哉悠哉輾轉反側 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
求之不得寤寐思服悠哉悠哉辗转反侧 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Qiúzhībùdé, wùmèi sīfú. Yōuzāiyōuzāi, zhǎnzhuǎnfǎncè. [Pinyin]
He sought her and found her not, and waking and sleeping he thought about her. Long he thought; oh! long and anxiously; on his side, on his back, he turned, and back again.

Pronunciation


Idiom

輾轉反側

  1. to toss and turn in bed as one has something on one's mind
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