一波三折 yī​bō​sān​zhé

一笔三过 / 一筆三過 yī​bǐ​sān​guò

same_as

Changed: source (simp), source (trad), source pinyin, target (simp), target (trad), target pinyin, type

created reference May 20, 2026, 07:58 PM

一波三折 yī​bō​sān​zhé

一帆风顺 / 一帆風順 yī​fān​fēng​shùn

antonym

Changed: source (simp), source (trad), source pinyin, target (simp), target (trad), target pinyin, type

created reference May 20, 2026, 07:58 PM

一波三折

yī​bō​sān​zhé

calligraphic flourish

A style of writing horizontal strokes in clerical script involving three changes of direction; characterized by multiple twists and turns of the brush

yì​bō​sān​zhé

一 (literal) → 一 · yī · one 波 (literal) → 波 · bō · (bound form) [calligraphy stroke] 三 (literal) → 三 · sān · three 折 (literal) → 折 · zhé · turning stroke

Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

created sense May 20, 2026, 07:57 PM

一波三折

yī​bō​sān​zhé

full of twists and turns

A process or event that is full of complications, setbacks, and unexpected changes

yì​bō​sān​zhé

一 (literal) → 一 · yī · one 波 (literal) → 波 · bō · [unexpected change] 三 (literal) → 三 · sān · many 折 (literal) → 折 · zhé · to turn

Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

created sense May 20, 2026, 07:57 PM

一波三折

yī​bō​sān​zhé

complex and shifting

The structure of an article or plot of a story that is undulating and full of variation

yì​bō​sān​zhé

一 (literal) → 一 · yī · one 波 (literal) → 波 · bō · wave (water) 三 (literal) → 三 · sān · many 折 (literal) → 折 · zhé · to break

Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

created sense May 20, 2026, 07:57 PM