波折 bōzhé twists and turns
How to remember 波折: 波 waves + 折 break = twists and turns.
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How it is used
- Means setbacks and complications along the way - 经过一番波折 (jīngguò yìfān bōzhé) after some twists and turns.
- Describes a bumpy process with obstacles, often in a plan, relationship, or negotiation that eventually resolves.
- Compare 挫折 (cuòzhé, a defeat/frustration): 波折 stresses winding difficulty en route, not outright failure.