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逆流而上

Mandarin · pinyin nì liú ér shàng

to sail against the current
(fig.) to go against the flow

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Characters in this entry

逆: nì · disobey, rebel; rebel, traitor
流: liú · flow, circulate, drift; class
而: ér · and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
上: shàng · top; superior, highest; go up, send up

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–2–2–4 · ni4 liu2 er2 shang4

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(literal) to go against the current
(figurative) to face difficulties

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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