Today’s Yojijukugo – four-character idiomatic phrase
七転八起 (しちてんはっき)
Shichiten Hakki
key words:
七[shichi] = seven
八[hachi] = eight
implications:
転[ten] -> 転ぶ[korobu] = fall -> the time when life knocks you down and you face troubles
起[ki] -> 起きる[okiru] = stand up ->
the time when you never give up and stand up to the troubles
The number eight is larger than seven. -> the frequency of standing up to the troubles
-> No matter how many times you face any trouble, you never give up and stand up to it.
usage:
Literally it means that you fall seven times and you stand up eight times.
You can say when you are facing any trouble, you never give up and
七転八起[shichiten hakki]して[shite = suru(= do) and] you will overcome it.
Interestingly in King James version of the Bible you can find it; Proverbs 24 verse 16 tells you that “For a just man, falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”
Do you “七転八起” suru when you are in trouble? (^^)/
similar:
七転び八起き[nanakorobi yaoki]
不撓不屈[futou fukutsu]