Tiān yǒu bùcè fēngyún; rén yǒu dàn-xī huò fú.*

天有不測風雲, 人有旦夕禍福。

Lit [Just as in] nature there are unexpected storms, [so in] human [life] there are unpredictable vicissitudes.

Fig Just as storms gather without warning in nature, people's luck can change in a short time. Human fortunes are as unpredictable as the weather.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 11; note: bùcè, “unpredictable”; the first half is usually used alone as a set phrase; see also tiān bù néng zǒng above.]

Topics CHANGE DRC LIFE LUCK NATURE STORMS VICISSITUDES WEATHER