宦海浮沉 huànhǎifúchén political ups and downs Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 宦海 huànhǎi officialdom (literary) the world of officialdom or bureaucracy, often described as a sea because of its unpredictable changes and dangers浮沉 fúchén vicissitudes the ups and downs of life or a career; the rise and fall of fortunes