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輾轉反側

简辗转反侧 · 繁輾轉反側

Mandarin · pinyin zhǎn zhuǎn fǎn cè

to toss and turn restlessly (in the bed)

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Characters in this entry

輾: Look up this written character
轉: Look up this written character
反: fǎn · reverse, opposite, contrary, anti
側: Look up this written character
辗: zhǎn · turn over, roll
转: zhuǎn · shift, move, turn
侧: cè · side; incline, slant, lean

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

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Mandarin tones

3–3–3–4 · zhan3 zhuan3 fan3 ce4

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

輾轉反側 · find source passages ↗ · 辗转反侧 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

zin2 zyun2 faan2 zak1

Cantonese word readings for 輾轉反側. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

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

phrase

(idiomatic) to toss and turn in bed as one has something on one's mind

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

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