輾轉反側

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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, poem 1 (《詩經·周南·關雎》):

寤寐思服
悠哉悠哉輾轉反側
[Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
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
Qiú zhī bù dé, wùmèi sīfú.
Yōuzāi yōuzāi, zhǎnzhuǎn fǎncè.
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