千回百转

qiān-huí-bǎi-zhuǎn

literal meaning: a thousand circles and a hundred turns
translated: full of many twists and turns

The two halves of this idiom can be switched to create an alternate form, "百转千回" (bǎi-zhuǎn-qiān-huí). There is no difference in meaning between the two versions, although 千回百转 is more commonly used.

The two halves of this idiom can be switched to create an alternate form, "百转千回" (bǎi-zhuǎn-qiān-huí). There is no difference in meaning between the two versions, although 千回百转 is more commonly used.

千

qiān

thousand

回

huí

return, circle back

百

bǎi

hundred

转

zhuǎn

turn, shift, change

Examples

毛不易 - 给你给我

Mao Buyi - Gei Ni Gei Wo

给你我百转千回的喜乐和忧愁

Gěi nǐ wǒ bǎizhuǎn-qiānhuí de xǐlè he yōuchóu

(I'll) give you my ever-changing joy and sorrow

In this lyric, the idiom is used to express how one's emotions keep shifting back and forth between joy and sorrow forever. In the context of the song, the singer tells someone that he will share his joys, sorrows, and everything in between with them during the time they spend together.