咸鱼翻身 xián yú fān shēn

fig. to experience a reversal of fortune

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to experience a reversal of fortune
  2. 2. lit. the salted fish turns over (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
咸 xián HSK 4
salty; salted; all
鱼 yú HSK 2
fish; surname Yu
翻 fān HSK 4
to turn over; to flip over; to translate
身 shēn HSK 2
body; oneself; personally