Definition
翻身 has two distinct uses: literally 'to turn over' in bed, and figuratively 'to free oneself from poverty/oppression and turn one's life around'. Unlike 脱身 (tuō shēn), which means to get away from a specific task or obligation, 翻身 implies a complete reversal of one's difficult circumstances, often after a long struggle.
verb
to turn over (while lying down)(figurative) to free oneself from oppression / povertyto turn one's life around
Examples
- ，。Tā zài chuáng shàng fān le yí xià shēn, yòu shuì zháo le.He turned over in bed once and fell asleep again.
- ，翻身。Gǎigé kāifàng hòu, hěn duō nóngmín zhōngyú fān shēn le.After the reform and opening-up, many farmers finally turned their lives around.
- ，翻身。Tā yòng le shí nián cái huán qīng zhàiwù, chèdǐ fān shēn le.It took her ten years to pay off her debts, and she completely freed herself.
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