此起彼伏

cǐ qǐ bǐ fú

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

Definitions

1. up here, down there (idiom); to rise and fall in succession
2. no sooner one subsides, the next arises
3. repeating continuously
4. occurring again and again (of applause, fires, waves, protests, conflicts, uprisings etc)

2 items

(idiom) one declines while the other flourishes; one loses out when the other one gains (as in a trade-off or a zero-sum game)

also describes a fluctuating alternation, often with a sense of waning and waxing

one climax follows another (of thrilling story)

describes wave-like ups and downs, often for emotions or plots

1 item

in unbroken succession (idiom)

emphasizes continuous succession without interruption

此起彼伏 is used for events that happen in rapid alternation, not for a single object that physically rises and falls.

1 shown

会场里掌声此起彼伏。

Applause broke out repeatedly in the hall.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

(for groups or occurrences) instance, time

this; these

to lean over

that