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起伏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
起伏qǐfúto move up and downHSK 7, v, rank #10304, Hard
起伏qǐfúto undulateHSK 7, v, rank #10304, Hard
起伏qǐfúups and downsHSK 7, v, rank #10304, Hard
qǐfú(qi3fu2) T3
  1. 1to move up and down
  2. 2to undulate
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March 24, 2026
起伏qǐfú(qi3fu2)

起伏 (qǐ fú) refers to the action of moving up and down, often associated with waves or fluctuations. It can describe physical movements, like the undulation of the sea, as well as metaphorical ups and downs in life, such as emotional states or economic conditions.

Frequency#10304DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 起伏 reflects the philosophical principle of balance and harmony, often seen in discussions about life's challenges and the cyclical nature of success and failure.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wave rising (起) and falling (伏) on the ocean. The characters visually represent the motion: 起 resembles something rising, while 伏 looks like something lying down. Picture a surfer riding these waves to remember the pronunciation.

Meanings of 起伏

qǐfú(qi3fu2)
1to move up and down
2to undulate
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 起伏

起伏Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10304Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 起伏

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Podcast: 起伏

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AI Study Notes for 起伏

Quick Contrast

波动 (bōdòng) refers specifically to fluctuations or oscillations, often in a more abstract or numerical context, while 起伏 (qǐfú) emphasizes the physicality or visual aspect of rising and falling.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wave rising (起) and falling (伏) on the ocean. The characters visually represent the motion: 起 resembles something rising, while 伏 looks like something lying down. Picture a surfer riding these waves to remember the pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with tone pronunciation; the correct tones are essential for clarity. The expression is often used in both formal and informal contexts to discuss fluctuating situations, like the stock market or personal emotions. Common collocations include 'emotionally 起伏' and '经济起伏'.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 起伏 connects with other advanced vocabulary that describes movement or change. Focus on using it in sentences that illustrate both physical and metaphorical fluctuations to deepen understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 起伏 reflects the philosophical principle of balance and harmony, often seen in discussions about life's challenges and the cyclical nature of success and failure.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the tones; for example, saying 'qi4 fu2' instead of 'qi3 fu2'. Additionally, using it inappropriately in contexts that require more specific terms can lead to misunderstandings; ensure you match the word to the context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 起伏

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Component Characters

起qǐto rise
HSK 310 strokes走
View full entry
伏fúto lean over
6 strokes亻
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Write 起伏

起
伏

Practice writing 起伏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 起伏

起伏 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

每一段感情都有许多____。

Every relationship has a lot of ups and downs.

Example Sentences for 起伏 (10)

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1
每一段感情都有许多起伏。

měi yī duàn gǎn qíng dū yǒu xǔ duō qǐ fú。

Every relationship has a lot of ups and downs.
2
伟大如穆恩者，也有状态起伏的时候。

wěi dà rú mù ēn zhě， ， yě yǒu zhuàng tài qǐ fú de shí。

Moon, as great as he is, has had some inconsistent days.
3
过去7个月中废旧货市场一直起伏不定。

guò qù7 7 gè yuè zhōng fèi jiù huò shì cháng yī zhí qǐ fú bù。

The junk market has been unsettled for the past seven months.
4
有好多年，那对夫妻跌宕起伏的关系总是登上报纸头条。

yǒu hǎo duō nián， ， nà duì fū qī diē dàng qǐ fú de guān xì zǒng shì dēng shàng bào zhǐ tóu。

For years, the couple's tempestuous relationship made the headlines.
5
狂风大作，海面上波浪起伏。

kuáng fēng dà zuò， ， hǎi miàn shàng bō làng qǐ。

A gale was blowing and the sea was choppy.
6
她躺在床上，闭着眼，胸部起伏不定。

tā tǎng zài chuáng shàng， ， bì zháo， yǎn ， xiōng bù qǐ fú。

She lay on the bed, her eyes closed and her bosom palpitating.
7
该地山峦平缓起伏，看上去类似托斯卡纳大区。

gāi dì shān luán píng huǎn qǐ fú， ， kàn shàng qù lèi sì tuō sī kǎ nà dà。

With its gently rolling hills it looks like Tuscany.
8
一阵微风吹下山坡，使青草如波浪起伏。

yī zhèn wēi fēng chuī xià shān pō， ， shǐ qīng cǎo rú bō làng qǐ。

A gust of breeze moved down the hillside, ruffling the grass.
9
他的政治生涯将近40年，其间起起伏伏。

tā de zhèng zhì shēng yá jiāng jìn40 40， nián ， qí jiān qǐ qǐ。

He had a chequered political career spanning nearly forty years.
10
一阵微风吹过，山谷里的庄稼便随风起伏。

yī zhèn wēi fēng chuī guò， ， shān gǔ lǐ de zhuāng jià biàn suí fēng qǐ。

A slight wind rippled the crops in the valley.

Cultural Notes for 起伏

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 起伏 reflects the philosophical principle of balance and harmony, often seen in discussions about life's challenges and the cyclical nature of success and failure.

Frequently Asked Questions about 起伏

Yes, it is commonly used to describe emotional fluctuations, such as feelings of happiness and sadness.