起伏 qǐfú to move up and down
to move up and down; to undulate; ups and downs
How to remember 起伏: 起 rise up + 伏 to crouch = to move up and down.
Characters
How it is used
- To rise and fall / undulate; ups and downs - 山峦起伏 (shānluán qǐfú) rolling hills; 情绪起伏 (qíngxù qǐfú) mood swings.
- Both literal (terrain, waves) and figurative (emotions, fortunes, a plot).
- 起 (rise) + 伏 (crouch/fall); common in 跌宕起伏 (diēdàng-qǐfú, full of dramatic ups and downs).
Example sentences
- 生活中有高低起伏。 Shēnghuó zhōngyǒu gāodī qǐfú.In life there are ups and downs.