Japanese meaning of 七転八倒
Reading:
しちてんばっとう (shichiten battou)
English Translation:
Writhe in agony
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
To writhe in agony, rolling about from severe pain or distress.
Cultural Context:
Common in health and accident reporting; often confused with 七転八起 (“fall seven times, stand up eight”)—they are unrelated in meaning.
激痛や苦悶でのたうち回るさま。
医療・事故の描写で頻用。七転八起と混同されやすいが、意味は全く異なる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase indicating extreme suffering, often with “に苦しむ.”
Trap for English Speakers
May be mistaken as purely physical pain, ignoring emotional or mental suffering.
Example
Basic Example
激しい腹痛で七転八倒する。
Writhe in agony from severe stomach pain.
Applied Example
激しい腹痛で七転八倒した。
I writhed in agony from severe stomach pain.